Lacklustre City punished by play-off rivals

It was a costly way to start a crucial five-game period, including four against fellow promotion fighters, which could have a big say in their hopes of going up.

On this evidence, there is work to be done.

Bury, who are now four points above them, weren’t brilliant but they had the better chances and always looked much more likely to score.

For City, that was not the case.

After the euphoria of Saturday’s breathless fightback at Kenilworth Road, they were sent crashing back to earth in the Gigg Lane rain.

With two home games coming straight up, City need a big response.

With Luke O’Brien calling off ill at lunchtime, on-loan defender Zesh Rehman was pressed straight into action as a makeshift left back.

Straight away, tricky winger Elliott Bennett cut back from his challenge and drilled in an awkward low cross that Rhys Evans just managed to dig out after a touch off Andy Morrell.

Given the high stakes, it was hardly surprising that the game set off at a frantic pace and Graeme Lee had to be alert to nod away another Bennett cross as Andy Bishop lurked menacingly.

Barry Conlon, Saturday’s last-gasp hero, had a great chance to head City in front after eight minutes from the opening corner. The Irishman was unmarked but could not hit the target from ten yards out – it was a big miss and he knew it.

The City fans were again out in force – 1,800 out of a 4,110 crowd – and created a wall of noise behind Evans’ goal. There were also a few derogatory songs about Bishop, the much-coveted Bury striker that City had been linked with.

Bishop responded with a long-range free-kick but it flew straight into Evans.

The game had settled down after the helter-skelter opening but Morrell forced Matt Clarke into coughing up a cheap corner as he tried to shepherd the ball out. Evans, though, cut out the danger with a confident take at the back post.

Rehman, despite playing on his wrong side, had settled well and looked strong and composed for his first start of the season.

Both keepers had been largely untroubled in the first half hour and when Bishop flicked down to set up Mike Jones, the winger thrashed his shot wide.

Bishop then tried an angled ball over the City centre halves to pick out Morrell for an ambitious volley high into the away end.

Omar Daley had not managed to get into the game, finding himself shackled by at least two white shirts every time the ball came his way. Bury had also switched their wingers over to put the quicker Bennett on him.

Conlon attempted a first-time lob from near the touchline but it was never coming down enough to worry home keeper Mark Tyler.

At the other end, Evans was called into serious action at last as David Buchanan neatly found Morrell in the box. He struck the shot cleanly but Evans confidently pushed it behind.

Bury broke through Morrell and Bennett fired a terrific cross into the danger area. Luckily for City, Lee was there in the middle of the scramble to calmly clear away.

The play was opening up and Daley suddenly pressed on the accelerator to scoot past Buchanan and power towards the byline. The Jamaican pulled the ball back to Paul McLaren, who was unable to keep his effort down from the edge of the Bury box.

It was patchy stuff and nowhere near the thrills and spills of Kenilworth Road but there was nothing to choose between the sides. Both knew it was there to be won in the second half.

Daley and Nicky Law swapped wings when the action resumed and the visitors tried to introduce a bit of snap into their play.

City looked more positive but Bury had the first chance of the half as Buchanan’s deep cross picked out Morrell for a header over the bar.

And the Shakers should have been in front after 51 minutes as Bennett raced away on the counter-attack with City caught upfield. He drew Rehman inside before slipping a pass to the unmarked Bishop on his right.

The striker looked odds on to score but his shot was at a good height for Evans, who turned it away superbly.

His opposite number Tyler was then caught out in an aerial challenge with Conlon but Law could not connect cleanly enough with the volley as the ball fell loose.

Referee Colin Webster had kept a calm hand on matters, a welcome change after the weekend histrionics from Trevor Kettle. But the Tyne & Wear official had to brandish a yellow card when Jones was upended late by the sliding Buchanan.

The away volume rose again, sensing the tide was turning in City’s favour. It almost did as a long free-kick from Bullock just ran away from Conlon as it dropped invitingly in the goalmouth.

Daley was punished for high-kicking to give Bury a free-kick five yards outside the corner of the box. Skipper Paul Scott fired it over the wall but Evans clutched comfortably, as he had done all game.

Daley was more embarrassed when he tried a trademark effort after cutting inside – only to catch the ball with his standing foot and miss the shot completely.

McCall made his first change after 69 minutes, bringing on Joe Colbeck for Jones. The substitute headed for the right wing with Daley pushed up front. Bury, though, issued another warning as Jones delivered a wickedly bending cross which beat the head of Lee. Morrell was right behind him and guided the ball no more than a foot wide of the post.

City did not heed the message – and fell behind with 15 minutes left.

Bennett, the best player on the pitch, was the architect with another driving run through the middle. He found Morrell on the edge of the box and his finish was clinical, firing past Evans at the near post.

City were once again chasing a game and responded by making their final two changes, Dean Furman and Michael Boulding coming on for Bullock and Daley.

Bury were bubbling and even their supporters finally came to life. With City committed to pushing men forward, they sensed more joy on the break as gaps appeared.

Morrell was denied by a strong sliding block from Clarke. The striker picked up a knock in the process and limped off to be replaced but he had got the job done.

City were throwing everyone forward in a frantic hunt for an equaliser. Furman’s cross was headed towards goal by Colbeck but it struck Conlon, who was unable to get out the way.

As stoppage time began, Boulding and Conlon opened Bury with a lovely one-two but Tyler beat the sub’s shot away.

City pressed again and thought they had equalised in a late scramble. Lee’s flick-on down the middle seemed to fall perfectly for either striker to pull the trigger.

Cresswell got in a crucial challenge but the ball ran loose invitingly to Colbeck. The Bury goal beckoned but he snatched at the shot and it deflected against the offside Boulding.

But City would not have warranted a point. Bury, worryingly, wanted it more.