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'Sixy' football

Dave Lawrenson
27/ 3/2008

BURY boss Alan Knill is convinced that his team can end the season in style by winning all six of their remaining fixtures.

Knill has always been confident of steering the Shakers away from relegation and it is practically a case of ‘job done’ with 15th-placed Bury now 13 points clear of the League Two drop zone.

After picking up 21 points from his 11 games in charge, Knill admits that his return to the club that he served with such distinction as a player has gone even better than he had hoped.

He has been mightily impressed with the quality and work ethic of his adopted squad. And he is tipping them to continue their rapid rise up the table.

Knill said: "There are six games left and we can win all six of them.

"We are not looking at how many points we need to avoid relegation. We are just looking to carry on winning and finish as high up the table as we can.

"The players have done really well for me so far. Considering the fact that we have been playing twice a week with just a small squad our results have been excellent since I came in.

"So far, it has gone even better than I had hoped it would. The players have taken on everything that I have tried to instill in them. They have got a lot better as a team unit and the confidence in the camp is now very high."

For the first time in more than a month, Bury have just one game this coming week. They visit a Shrewsbury Town side lying three places below them in the table on Saturday, March 29, kick-off 3pm.

Knill said: "They are a decent team with a new manager in Paul Simpson. But most of the players here now believe that we can go anywhere and win. That has been the biggest change since I became the manager."

Skipper Dave Challinor is the only Bury player unavailable for the game. He could return to action the following weekend after making a quick recovery from a knee operation.

Fellow centre half Paul Morgan hopes to be recalled for the trip to Shrewsbury. The luckless long-term absentee has recovered from recent virus, ulcer and knee problems.

Striker Andy Mangan has been added to the squad after returning from his loan spell at Accrington Stanley.

A groin injury limited his impact at the Shakers’ League Two rivals but Mangan has assured Knill that he is now fully fit.