Lee Evans netted the second of two Blues penalties as Town came from behind to beat bottom club Morecambe 2-1 at the Mazuma Stadium. Kieran Phillips gave the home side the lead in the 34th minute with the Blues under par in the first half. But, after Town had hit the woodwork three times, George Edmundson equalised in the 54th minute, before Conor Chaplin saw Town’s first penalty in nine months saved, however, Evans converted a second 10 minutes later to seal the three points.
Town boss Kieran McKenna made five changes from the team which beat Cambridge 3-0 on Tuesday.
Richard Keogh came in for his first league start for the Blues at the centre of the back three with Luke Woolfenden dropping out for only the second time in the league since McKenna took charge in December.
Wes Burns was also among the subs with Kyle Edwards handed his first league start of the season having scored twice against the U’s.
Lee Evans rejoined skipper Sam Morsy in the centre of midfield with Dom Ball absent from the 18. Young midfielder Cameron Humphreys was on the bench for the first time in the league this season.
Tyreece John-Jules, who also scored against Cambridge, was one of the number 10s with Kayden Jackson the lone central striker with Marcus Harness and Freddie Ladapo subs.
For Morecambe, who were without eight senior players, ex-Blues winger Dylan Connolly started and former midfielder Shane McLoughlin was among only five subs.
Ahead of kick-off there was a minute's applause in memory of Morecambe life vice-president Val Easthope, who died last week.
Town saw all the ball in the early stages but without creating a chance until the sixth minute when Evans hit a free-kick from 30 yards into the arms of home keeper Connor Ripley, son of one-time England international Stuart.
Morecambe started to show some threat going forward and on 17 George Edmundson blocked Liam Shaw’s shot after good work from Cole Stockton.
A minute later, John-Jules claimed a penalty after being manhandled in the box by Ousmane Fane but referee Thomas Kirk wasn’t interested.
Town were finding it tough to work their way through a determined Morecambe back five, as they did in last year’s corresponding fixture in February, and were showing little of their usual passing fluency.
On 23 Fane clattered into Chaplin after the forward had already laid off the ball not far from the Town dugout with Blues boss McKenna clearly furious with the challenge. Fane was shown the game’s first yellow card and Chaplin was OK to continue.
On the half-hour, Chaplin threaded Jackson through on goal but the linesman raised his flag, although with Liam Gibson appearing to be playing the Town striker on.
In the 32nd minute, Edwards deftly took down a ball played to him on the right before cutting inside Ryan Delaney, who spent time training with the Blues at their pre-season training camp in Ireland in 2016, who tripped him and was booked as a result.
A minute later, a poor Christian Walton kick landed at Connolly’s feet and the winger brought the ball forward before being tripped midway inside the Town half by Morsy.
And from the resultant free-kick, the Shrimps went in front. Morecambe skipper Donald Love’s chipped free-kick was hooked on by Shaw and Kieran Phillips finished from close range from what looked an offside position. Despite Town protests, no flag was forthcoming and the Blues were behind.
With Town huffing and puffing, manager McKenna swapped things around, moving Edwards to the left, Jackson to the right and John-Jules to the central striking role.
And two minutes before the scheduled end of the half, the Blues almost levelled. After Edwards had stood up a cross from the left and the ball had been half-cleared, Evans struck a shot which left Ripley standing but hit the keeper’s left post. The rebound fell to Jackson but his shot flew well over.
As the half moved into additional time, Chaplin hit a low effort wide, then at the other end Love shot high and wide from distance.
Despite having most of the ball, Town had been disappointing with the performance lacking fluency and, with Morecambe constantly snapping at their heels, they had rarely created a serious chance until Evans struck the post in the closing stages of the half.
As in last season’s game, the Blues were made to pay for failing to defend Morecambe’s one decent opportunity, although again Town looked to be on the wrong end of a poor decision with Shaw appearing to have been offside.
Town were unchanged ahead of the second half and almost levelled within a minute. Morsy brought the ball out from deep as the Blues broke following a Morecambe attack and fed Edwards to the left. The former West Brom man curled a shot beyond Ripley but hit the post.
Town struck the woodwork for a third time in the 48th minute. Chaplin crossed from the right and Love headed against his own bar, Ripley gratefully grabbing hold of the loose ball.
The Blues put the Morecambe goal under siege in the early stages, Evans forcing Ripley to a save down to his left, then Morsy striking a subsequent effort which failed to seriously test the keeper.
Town won their first corner of the afternoon in the 54th minute from which they got back on terms.
Davis sent the ball over and Edmundson, who earlier in the week had been jokingly complaining about his shooting rating on FIFA 23, turned the ball into the net under Ripley.
The goal had been coming with Town much more like their usual selves since half-time and with Morecambe having ridden their luck with the three opportunities hitting the woodwork.
Four minutes after levelling, the Blues should have gone in front. Edwards tricked his way past Farrend Rawson, who tripped him in the box. Referee Thomas Kirk pointed straight to the spot with no complaints from the home side.
Chaplin, who converted the only other penalty the Blues had been awarded under McKenna, at Gillingham in his second game in charge in January 36 games ago, took the kick but didn’t get enough on it and Ripley saved down to his left.
Soon after, Morecambe had the ball in the net through Town old boy Connolly but having strayed offside, then in the 62nd minute Jacob Bedeau was booked for pulling back Edwards as he burst forward in the Shrimps half.
Six minutes after being awarded their first penalty since January, the Blues were given another when Jackson was felled by Bedeau, who was fortunate not to be shown a second yellow card, as he broke into the right of the box.
This time Evans took the kick and slammed a powerful effort to Ripley’s right and into the net.
Having gone in front, Town made a double change which was already planned prior to the second goal with Harness and Burns replacing Chaplin and Jackson.
Evans was booked for a foul on 71, Walton seeing the free-kick behind confidently. Two minutes later, Davis curled a free-kick over after Burns had been fouled by Rawson, who had his name added to referee Kirk’s book.
Town weren’t having it all their own way and on 76 Morecambe came close to equalising when Stockton outmuscled Janoi Donacien inside the box before knocking it back across Walton but beyond the post as the keeper scampered across his line. Moments later, the Blues swapped Ladapo for John-Jules and Kane Vincent-Young for Davis.
On 82 Burns crossed low from the byline on the right and the ball reached Edwards but squirmed under the winger’s foot. A minute later, Ladapo was played in on the right of the area but shot over.
Morecambe made their first changes in the 86th minute with Connolly and Fane replaced by Adam Mayor and Ryan Cooney, then Stockton was booked for clattering into Evans after the Town midfielder had cleared in front of him inside the area. The Welshman underwent a lengthy spell of treatment before continuing.
Morecambe gave Town an uncomfortable six minutes of additional time with the ball bouncing around dangerously following a free-kick but the Blues were able to see the time out to claim three hard-fought points.
As so often last season, the Blues dominated possession but without making much headway in the first half, but after McKenna made his switch just before half-time his side began to threaten more with Evans unlucky when he hit the post.
Edwards was similarly unfortunate not to net his third goal in two games when he hit the woodwork and Town fully deserved their equaliser when it came.
Chaplin’s uncharacteristic penalty miss didn’t knock Town too far off their stride and Evans confidently converted the second spot-kick.
There were still one or two nervy moments against a resolute Morecambe side who were far from a soft touch and will almost certainly take points off some of the top teams this season if they play in a similar manner.
The victory sees the Blues stay second a point behind Plymouth, who beat Accrington 3-0 at home, with Sheffield Wednesday, who defeated Cheltenham by the same scoreline at Hillsborough, four points behind in third.
Morecambe: Ripley, Love (c), Gibson, Rawson, Delaney, Fane (Cooney 86), Stockton, Connolly (Mayor 86), Bedeau, Shaw, Phillips. Unused: Smith, McLoughlin, O’Connor.
Town: Walton, Donacien, Keogh, Edmundson, Edwards, Evans, Morsy (c), Davis (Vincent-Young 76), Chaplin (Harness 67), John-Jules (Ladapo 76), Jackson (Burns 67). Unused: Hladky, Woolfenden, Humphreys. Referee: Thomas Kirk (Cheshire). Att: 4,776 (Town: 1,064).