ECHOSPORT talks to Morecambe fan Joel Shooter ahead of Tuesday's match with Southend United.

Morecambe are currently sixth in the table. What have you made of the season so far?

"It’s been a brilliant season.

"It’s been such a while since we’ve had a charge at promotion (about 11 years), so it’s great to finally break the cycle of being perennial relegation strugglers.

"While we’re a side that are happy to concede possession, our quick attacking style means that games are generally quite entertaining and often have at least a goal or two in them (we’re yet to draw 0-0).

"We’ve also bounced back from losing arguably League Two’s best creative midfielder in Adam Phillips, which has been seriously impressive.

"The team has stepped up and shown real desire and quality to keep up the push for promotion."

What were the expectations for Morecambe this season and have they been exceeded?

"The general expectation was just for some kind of progress to break away from being relegation strugglers.

"With Derek Adams at the helm having had the summer the shape the squad more to his liking, most were generally quite optimistic of this.

"A top half finish was loosely the target, and this has definitely been exceeded with the team flying high in the play-offs."

What have been the main reasons for the success?

"Adams will rightly take a lot of credit.

"After getting us over the line last season when we looked in real trouble, the team has been completely transformed.

"There are players who were stalwarts under the previous manager (Jim Bentley) who have improved massively under Adams, and he has also made some great additions to the squad.

"He’s also completely changed the mentality, and the phrase “little old Morecambe” is being turned into a thing of the past.

"The players must also take a great deal of credit.

"They endured what was apparently a very gruelling pre-season to get fit, and have continued to work extremely hard to get results.

"It’s very much been a team effort, with a great deal of defensive work being put in across the whole side and goals/assists coming from a variety of players in attack.

What are the hopes for the rest of the season?

"Adams and the team are wanting to push for a title charge, and it’s certainly possible given how tight things are at the top of the League.

"While Friday’s defeat to Cambridge has put a dent in that ambition, we’re still in the hunt for automatic promotion and given that we’ve been up around the summit of League Two all season (the stats/numbers back us up too), play-offs feel like the minimum target now."

Who would you say are the dangermen?

"Carlos Mendes-Gomes came through last season as a tricky winger with a great bit of flair and invention.

"This season, he continues to be that and so much more having added a real nose for goal and more incisive passing to his game.

"He’s currently our top goalscorer with 12, and is a big threat drifting in from the wing and finding pockets of space both to create and pinch a few goals.

"Cole Stockton is a key focal point up front and one of the best hold-up strikers in the division, and John O’Sullivan is hard working and creative on the opposite flank to Mendes-Gomes.

"Aaron Wildig is also a big threat from midfield, having become a key man for Adams with his late runs into the box and ability to help knit play together in possession."

What's the team news?

"Yann Songo’o will still be missing in defensive midfield as he’s serving the last match of his six game suspension.

"Alex Kenyon is the most natural deputy for Songo’o, but has missed out in the last couple of games after hurting his ankle in training.

"If he’s still out, it’ll most likely be Toumani Diagouraga dropping deeper or Alex Denny coming in to replace him.

"Left back Liam Gibson will also be suspended after getting a red card against Cambridge, with Stephen Hendrie likely to come in."