Morecambe boss Ged Brannan praised his side’s spirit and determination as he sealed his first home win since taking over from Derek Adams by beating Sutton 1-0.
The Shrimps had to overcome a stubborn performance from the bottom club to take the three points in Brannan’s seventh game at the Mazuma Stadium.
A fourth-minute goal from Barrow loanee Ged Garner, his third in two games, was enough to earn the Shrimps a third win in four games.
Brannan said: “I’m delighted to get the first win here under my belt for myself, the lads and the fans who have been magnificent.
“I thought the lads were terrific and we should have won by more.
“We created a load of chances and should have won by three or four really with a perfectly good goal disallowed but the three points is what we were after and the win keeps our little run of results going.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game because Sutton gave everything and made it hard for us. But we stayed strong and won a lot of second balls and coped really well with the height they had upfront.”
The defeat left Sutton second from bottom and seven points from safety.
Boss Steve Morison was disappointed with his side’s performance after their recent improvements had seen them draw three of their last five games.
He said: “That wasn’t the team we have seen in the last five games.
“I would say Morecambe are the best team we have played in the six games we have had since coming here but we are better than what we showed today and if we had played like we have been doing I think we could definitely have got a result which is really frustrating.
“We have to move on quickly, though, reflect on this game and put it to bed and then look to our next few matches.
“We play a couple of teams around us soon which are really important games. We know we can be better and we have to be better.”
Garner’s winner came in the first real move of the game as Charlie Brown played in Joel Senior, who produced a superb cross for a stretching Garner to score from close range.
Brown went close to adding to the score on two separate occasions and Gwion Edwards had a goal disallowed for a tight offside just before the hour for the home side.
Sutton’s best chance came in the second half when skipper Craig Eastmond found space in the box but blazed an effort over from eight yards.
Garner had the chance to double the Shrimps’ advantage in the final moments but was denied by Dean Bouzanis, who spread himself well to foil the striker.
Belgium right-back Meunier an injury doubt for Euro 2024
Belgium have confirmed full-back Thomas Meunier will not travel to Germany with the team on Wednesday, throwing his participation at Euro 2024 into doubt.
Meunier has won 66 senior caps for Belgium, representing his country at the last four major tournaments since missing out on their squad for the 2014 World Cup.
He scored in a 2-0 group-stage win over England at the 2018 World Cup, also netting in a 3-0 victory over Russia at Euro 2020.
The 32-year-old – who swapped Borussia Dortmund for Trabzonspor in February – was not involved as Domenico Tedesco's team beat Luxembourg 3-0 in a friendly on Saturday, having suffered a muscle injury.
In an update issued on social media on Sunday, the Royal Belgian Football Association said: "Thomas Meunier provisionally won't travel to Germany on Wednesday because of a muscle injury.
"There will be more tests in the next couple of days. Get well soon, Thomas."
Belgium open their Group E campaign against Slovakia on June 17 before facing Romania and Ukraine.
De Jong returns to Netherlands training but may not make Euro 2024 opener
Frenkie de Jong has returned to non-contact training with the Netherlands as he steps up his recovery from an ankle injury, but he may not make their Euro 2024 opener against Poland.
De Jong was included in Ronald Koeman's final 26-man squad for the Euros despite an ankle issue preventing him from featuring for Barcelona since a 3-2 loss to Real Madrid on April 21.
He made 30 appearances across all competitions as the Blaugrana endured a disappointing 2023-24 campaign, finishing well adrift of Madrid at the top of LaLiga and exiting the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain in the last eight.
He has been a fixture in the Oranje side since making his senior international debut in 2018, and Koeman is hopeful he might play a part in Group D fixtures against France and Austria, even if he is not available for their opening game against Poland next Sunday.
"He was part of training but we kept him away from any contact," Koeman said at a press conference ahead of Monday's final warm-up game against Iceland.
"It is possible that Frenkie will not make it to the first match, but we can wait until the second or third game. That's a possibility.
"Even if he can't play the first two games, we'll stick with him. But if it looks as if he will miss the entire group stage, I might have to rethink his selection."
In De Jong's absence, PSV's Jerdy Schouten started in midfield alongside Georginio Wijnaldum and Ryan Gravenbech as the Netherlands beat Canada 4-0 in a friendly on Thursday.
Asked about the general condition of his squad, Koeman added: "A number of the players had some rest towards the end of the season and came in fresh.
"There were also players who were not yet ready for a full 90 minutes, but we were able to train well. It is up to us to loosen the reins in time, to start the first match super fit."
Euro 2024 will be the 11th edition of the tournament to feature the Netherlands, who won their only major international trophy when the competition was last held exclusively in Germany in 1988.
Only Germany (six times) have reached at least the semi-finals of the Euros more often than the Oranje (four times) since 1988. However, they have not made the final four since 2004.
De la Fuente: Pedri living up to Spain's lofty expectations
Pedri is living up to the lofty expectations set by Spain's national team, so says coach Luis de la Fuente.
The Barcelona youngster netted twice in Spain's 5-1 demolition of Northern Ireland in their final pre-tournament friendly ahead of Euro 2024.
Pedri has struggled with injury this season, featuring just 16 times in LaLiga for Barca, but is back in form for the tournament.
And De la Fuente, whose team have won three of their last five games, has been hugely impressed by the midfielder.
"We have been very happy and because he is a very good player and he knows that I have confidence in him and he is going to give us very good things in this competition," De la Fuente told reporters.
"I have always talked about it from the point of view of the confidence he has to have. I said that 'Pedri has to meet Pedri', in the figurative sense of gaining confidence.
"The best version of Pedri we don't know where he is, because he's so good. We expect so much from him that it's infinite.
"It has to be the player who takes that step forward, as he has done, to be sure and confident to do the things that only he can do."
Spain will take on Albania, Croatia and holders Italy in their Euro 2024 group.
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