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First defeats

Dave Lawrenson
31/ 7/2008

BURY suffered a double-whammy of home defeats to the two Championships sides from Sheffield as their unbeaten pre-season record flew out of the window.

But the way that Bury performed in this week’s games, particularly against Sheffield United on Tuesday, should give them plenty of confidence for their forthcoming League Two campaign.

Bury could have no complaints about their 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

But the Shakers bossed large chunks of their game against Sheffield United, combining defensive steel with plenty of pace and power in attack. And they were dreadfully unlucky to lose 2-1 with the Blades hitting the winner with the last kick of the game.

There was also a large slice of misfortune about United’s opening goal on nine minutes, with Gary Speed’s strike from the edge of the box taking a wicked deflection off Ryan Cresswell.

The goal was cruel on centre back Cresswell, who joined Bury from Sheffield United this summer. But he certainly saved face by equalising for the Shakers 11 minutes later, heading home Stephen Dawson’s corner.

Dawson, who worked tirelessly in the midfield engine room, went close to scoring himself either side of half-time. Strikers Glynn Hurst and Andy Bishop also came close to netting for the Shakers before Billy Sharp provided a smart finish from a long ball to break the home side’s hearts at the death.

United’s Danny Webber had earlier failed to score when clean through on goal and fluffed a close range header while Elliott Bennett impressed on the right wing having re-joined Bury in a six-month loan deal on the morning of the game.

The other half of the steel city had far fewer problems against Bury on Saturday. The game was played in baking hot conditions and Wednesday’s extra power and class showed throughout.

The visitors had the better of the chances and they prevailed thanks to a brace of goals from Leon Clarke on 54 and 60 minutes. He showed good control and a sweet strike after being set up by Deon Burton before finding the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

However, Wednesday did not have a shot on goal until the 31st minute mark when Burton found himself clear of the Shakers’ defence only to be thwarted by keeper Wayne Bennett.

And Bury had a couple of decent opportunities themselves. As usual, their main threat was Bishop. He over-egged an attempt to chip Wednesday’s keeper from close range on 41 minutes and his sliced shot from a fine Danny Racchi pass on 67 minutes also went just over the crossbar.

Dawson and David Buchanan were the pick of Bury’s players.

Team against United: Brown, Scott, Buchanan, Cresswell, Sodje, Dawson, Barry-Murphy, Jones, Bennett, Bishop, Hurst. Subs used: Belford, Haslam, Racchi, Rouse, Dorney, Anane.

Team against Wednesday: Brown, Scott, Buchanan, Futcher, Dawson, Baker, Bishop, Racchi, Jones, Marsh, Sodje. Subs used: Cresswell, Anane, Hurst, Barry-Murphy.

Click on the video window to see action from Tuesday's game against Sheffield United