Morecambe boss Stephen Robinson admitted that leaving Portman Road with a draw yesterday ‘felt like a defeat.
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The Shrimps were close to pulling off a major upset in their first-ever game in League One, until Macauley Bonne’s late leveller saw Town snatch a point.

And Robinson was delighted with his side’s showing, if a little miffed at not going home with all three points.



He said: “You can see the level of quality that they (town) are bringing onto the pitch, but it is a really good point, I believe we could have had three, but we are a good footballing side and to get our first point at Portman Road shows you that we can play at this level.

“I thought we were well organised, we contained them very well and they didn’t look like they were going to score again, which is frustrating because it was one long ball up the pitch, and it is something you work on all the time.

‘It feels like a defeat after coming so close to three points, but that just shows how far we have come against one of the league favourites.”

Robinson also lauded striker Cole Stockton, who bagged both Morecambe goals.

East Anglian Daily Times: Cole Stockton (left) celebrates scoring one of his two goals for Morecambe on the opening day at Portman Road.Cole Stockton (left) celebrates scoring one of his two goals for Morecambe on the opening day at Portman Road. (Image: (C) Copyright Stephen Waller)

“He is a handful to play against Cole, I thought he was outstanding, he did not give their defence a minutes rest and when big Jonah (Ayunga) came on as well, the two of them were brilliant,” he said.

“It is vital early on that we get some points on the board because I want the players to believe that they can perform at this level, a lot of players in the dressing room have only played in League Two and it is about building that momentum.

“We were organised, we were disciplined throughout the pitch and that is something that we have worked on but the performance was outstanding."