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Get back on track

Tony Howard
20/ 3/2008

BURY boss Alan Knill is tipping his side to prove that Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at rock bottom Wrexham was just a blip as they look to bounce back during a tough Easter schedule.

The Shakers travel to third-placed Hereford on Saturday, March 22, kick-off 3pm, before entertaining League Two relegation rivals Mansfield on Easter Monday, March 24, kick-off 3pm, with Knill confident that his side can take all six points.

Bury’s defeat at Wrexham ended a three-game winning streak which had seen them rise to 16th in the table.

Knill said: "We were very disappointed with the loss having been on a good run. I’m not concerned though as we played some good stuff in the first half and I think we’re good enough to prove that we can still beat any side in this league.

"It’s a very competitive division and it makes no difference whether we’re playing Hereford at the top or Mansfield at the bottom. We can beat them both and get back to winning ways.

"We don’t care where teams are in the league – we prepare the same for every game and that won’t change after a defeat. We’ve climbed up the table in recent weeks and we don’t intend to stop. We’ll carry on climbing."

Bury centre back Paul Morgan is in the process of recovering from a virus and niggling pain in his knee but Knill expects him to make the squad for Saturday.

Keeper Darren Randolph, who will be staying at Gigg Lane until the end of the season after extending his loan deal from Charlton, will miss the Mansfield game after being called up for Republic of Ireland under-21s international duty. Jim Provett is in line to take his place.

But full back or midfielder David Buchanan has been given special dispensation to play in the game. He is in the Northern Ireland Under-21s squad preparing to play against Romania on Wednesday, March 26.

Midfielder Nicky Adams is also available. He was a surprise omission from Wales’ under-21s squad.

Meanwhile, Knill has confirmed that skipper Dave Challinor is just one week away from returning to full training after undergoing knee surgery.

Knill said: "It’s a big boast for us as Challinor is a key player and it’s just the sort of thing we needed to hear at this time of the season."