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Saturday, 27 March 1999 |
| Theres A Spirit Of Defiance At Bury - The Pink (Mike Waring) Bookies rate Burys survival odds as even money but boss Neil Warnock will not hear the word relegation. Even the departure of on-loan Paul Hall back to Coventry couldnt deflect the Shakers chief, who brought in quicksilver striker Derek Lilley from Leeds. A Scottish youth international Lilley, who cost Leeds £500,000, is seen as the perfect replacement. A run of 16 games without a win would hardly seem grounds for boundless optimism, especially when the team has scored only once in six outings., but there is an air of defiance swirling around Gigg Lane and Warnock can smell it. It smacks of the kind of backs-to-the-wall, dogs-of-war mentality that drove the shakers to two successive promotions, saw them win a tough battle against the drop 12 months ago and which seemed sadly missing in the middle of this season. A fine start to the campaign - at one time they lay third - was frittered away by a careless spell when goals and points were tossed aside. Players came and players went with alarming regularity. To the outsider, the revolving Gigg Lane seemed to let the spirit seep out and, as a result, the collective heart began to beat with a little less intensity. A couple of no holds barred team talks seemed to cure the problem and the shakers have since launched themselves on a survival course which has seen them draw five in a row. During that impressive spell they have not looked out of place alongside the likes of play-off hopefuls Wolves and Watford. "You can sense a change in atmosphere about the place," said Warnock, today. "There is a real buzz around the corridors in the ground. I have never been more confident of staying up. I know the players think along the same lines and I believe the fans are beginning to see the light too. I have had some very supportive letters. The lads are bubbling in training and when teams as good as Wolves are happy to cling on for a point then we are on the right lines. "If luck had been smiling on us a little more we could have had 12 points at the least from those five draws. But at the end of the day it is not luck that will keep us in the division but hard work and ability. "We have banished all the negative vibes once and for all and that is a great start. It is just a pity the international weekend has come along. I wish we were playing twice a week. As far as I am concerned the games cannot come quickly enough. "It is frustrating that we have not been able to find the net but Im sure Paul Barnes will help solve that problem. He has been first class since he arrived and I an excited by the prospect of teaming him up alongside Laurent DJaffo and Derek Lilly." There was praise too for veteran defender Steve Redmond, who has battled his way back into the defence after appearing to be Gigg Lanes forgotten man. "Steve was magnificent at the start of the season and then went through a poor spell but he has come back as good as ever. He and the two Chrises have been outstanding and as long as they continue to perform at such a level then we are going to be hard to beat." There is a special incentive for youngsters attending Burys Easter soccer courses.One lucky player will get the opportunity to lead out the side in their key April clash with leaders Sunderland and five others will take part in a penalty shoot out at the big derby match with Bolton Wanderers. Courses run from March 29-April 1 and April 6-9 and are held at Peel College. Players, aged 5-14, can sign up for single days and pay on the day. Details: Andy Feeley on . |
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Saturday, 27 March 1999 |
| Bury striker swoop The Bolton Evening News: LEEDS United striker Derek Lilley is the man Neil Warnock hopes will help Bury fight off relegation. The 25-year-old joined the Shakers on loan until the end of the season, the sixth striker to be signed by the Gigg lane boss this season. He joins Andy Preece, Laurent D'Jaffo, Lutel James, Adrian Littlejohn and Paul Barnes in the hunt to provide some badly needed goals for the relegation-haunted side. Warnock wasted no time in contacting the highly-rated Lilley after Coventry City demanded the return of winger Paul Hall on Tuesday night, four days after agreeing to extend his loan deal. A former Morton hero, Lilley scored 57 goals in 180 appearances and was the leading scorer in the Scottish First Division before his move to Elland Road. He has made just four starts for the Yorkshire giants, with 19 as a substitute, but has not had a look-in under manager David O'Leary who released him on loan to Hearts over Christmas. "I first saw him six years ago, when I was at Huddersfield," added Warnock. He had a good game and showed great movement. We tried to sign him for £100,000 but Leeds bought him for £400,000. "He is a decent, whole-hearted finisher who brings other players into the game. He is just what we need. "When I first asked about him a week ago I was told he was going nowhere. He had already turned down six clubs, including Huddersfield, Norwich and Oldham, but I cornered him at a game at Mansfield this week. After 20 minutes, I managed to persuade him to join us. He knows our position and is really up for the challenge of trying to keep us up." After their initial setback, the Shakers had lined up a move for Middlesbrough winger Anthony Ormerod, but pulled out when he was injured in a midweek reserve clash with Burnley. Warnock said: "We would have taken him otherwise, but he was going to be out for two weeks. We continued to look around and couldn't believe our luck when Lilley agreed to join us. He was my number one choice anyway. No clubs had come in for £1m-rated stars Dean Kiely or Chris Lucketti when the transfer deadline passed at 5pm last night, much to Warnock's relief. Mark Patterson, however, has played his last game for Bury after being released by the club yesterday to join Southend. Tony Rigby turned down the chance of a loan spell at Shrewsbury and Nigel Jemson chose to stay on at Gigg Lane despite two offers of a loan from unnamed clubs. |
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Friday, 26 March 1999 |
| Warnock swoops for Leeds marksman - The Bury Times: NEIL Warnock moved swiftly to beat the transfer deadline yesterday when he landed Leeds United striker Derek Lilley. The 25-year-old joined the Shakers on loan until the end of the season and was introduced to his new teammates over a game of 10-pin bowling. He is the sixth striker to be signed by the Bury manager this season following Andy Preece, Laurent D'Jaffo, Lutel James, Adrian Littlejohn and Paul Barnes. Warnock wasted no time in contacting the highly-rated Scotsman after Coventry City demanded the return of winger Paul Hall on Tuesday night, four days after agreeing to extend his loan deal. "It was a huge blow to us," admitted Warnock. "It was totally unexpected but Gordon Strachan said he had a big injury problem for this weekend and would probably need Paul for the bench. "He apologised and there was nothing more we could do, only start looking for a replacement. "I was delighted when we completed the Lilley deal. He is top quality." A former Morton hero, Lilley scored 57 goals in 180 appearances and was the leading scorer in the Scottish First Division before his move to Elland Road. He has made just four starts for the Yorkshire giants, with 19 as a substitute, but has not had a look-in under manager David O'Leary who released him on loan to Hearts over Christmas. "I first saw him six years ago, when I was at Huddersfield," added Warnock. "He had a good game and showed great movement. We tried to sign him for £100,000 but Leeds bought him for £400,000. "He is a decent, whole-hearted finisher who brings other players into the game. He is just what we need. "When I first asked about him a week ago I was told he was going nowhere. He had already turned down six clubs, including Huddersfield, Norwich and Oldham, but I cornered him at a game at Mansfield this week. After 20 minutes, I managed to persuade him to join us. He knows our position and is really up for the challenge of trying to keep us up." After their initial setback, the Shakers had lined up a move for Middlesbrough winger Anthony Ormerod, but pulled out when he was injured in a midweek reserve clash with Burnley. Warnock said: "We would have taken him otherwise, but he was going to be out for two weeks. We continued to look around and couldn't believe our luck when Lilley agreed to join us. He was my number one choice anyway. "The chairman and I have been on the phone all week. We are mentally exhausted, but I cannot thank him enough for helping me to sign Lilley. He has worked so hard to bring the lad to the club." No clubs had come in for £1m-rated stars Dean Kiely or Chris Lucketti when the transfer deadline passed at 5pm last night, much to Warnock's relief. Mark Patterson, however, has played his last game for Bury after being released by the club yesterday. Tony Rigby turned down the chance of a loan spell at Shrewsbury and Nigel Jemson chose to stay on at Gigg Lane despite two offers of a loan from unnamed clubs. Shakers take sting out of Hornets - The Bury Times: STILL no away win, but the Shakers leapt two places and out of the drop zone courtesy of their fifth draw on the bounce. Another cool, calm, controlled performance against yet another promotion-chasing side deserved more than a point and had Paul Barnes connected with Carl Serrant's 92nd minute cross, that's exactly what they'd have got. But the former Huddersfield striker, looking more than comfortable in only his second Bury outing, swung and missed, to the horror of the small band of visiting supporters gathered behind the goal. It would have been the icing on top of a quality performance from Barnes, but, as he will quickly learn, such luck rarely falls the way of the Shakers who have now failed to win in 17 outings. The mood in the camp, however, remains upbeat with eight nail-biting matches to go. After the game, manager Neil Warnock, clearly excited by the team he has assembled, declared: "I wish we were starting the season again!" After last week's £40,000 capture of Barnes, he believes he at last has 11 men capable of matching any team in the division. "The quality we have brought in has added another dimension to our game. We just need that bit of luck to go our way in the last few games," he said. The Shakers could have done with a slice of that luck 10 minutes from half-time when the tricky Paul Hall appeared to be hauled down inside the Watford box, but referee Mick Fletcher ruled first contact was made outside the area and awarded only a free kick. "My heart was in my mouth, I thought it was a penalty," shrugged Warnock. "We definitely had the better chances. I felt we were in charge in the first half and we tried to raise the tempo in the second to grab a goal. They had a good spell in the second half but we came good at the end. "We were a nat's breath from getting the three points." Bury's other big scoring chance was the first of the game when skipper Chris Lucketti, the usual rock in defence, watched his header from Serrant's cross palmed over the bar by Alec Chamberlain. It signalled Bury's intention to go all-out for victory and they held the upper hand for much of the game, particularly the first half in which the Hornets created only a handful of serious attacks - Johann Gudmundsson blasting wide and debutant Guy Whittingham being denied by Dean Kiely. Sandwiched in between, midfield rock Darren Bullock neatly brought down Serrant's cross but fired over the cross bar. Warnock switched strikers at the break, trying Adrian Littlejohn alongside Barnes in place of the returning Lutel James. The substitute had few chances to make a mark, but Barnes saw plenty of ball. In the 64th minute his shot was well blocked by Chamberlain and he frustratingly fired over the bar six minutes later. Watford came closest through Tommy Mooney, whose 83rd minute header struck the cross bar, outstanding full back Darren Bazeley, who was twice denied by Dean Kiely, and Richard Johnson, whose 66th minute effort curled round the left hand upright. Special mention to Bury's rejuvenated Steve Redmond who saved a certain goal-bound shot in the closing seconds with a brave sliding block. |
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Monday, 22 March 1999 |
| Bury draw specialists creep clear of danger zone - Bolton Evening News: NEIL Warnock watched his brave Bury side notch their fifth draw on the bounce and declared: "I wish we were starting the season again!" After last week's capture of Huddersfield striker Paul Barnes, the Shakers chief believes he at last has 11 men capable of matching any team in the division and, on Saturday's evidence, he is right. Bury held the upper hand for much of the game against the promotion-chasing Londoners, enjoying the bulk of possession whilst limiting the Hornets to only a handful of serious attacks. Yet that first away victory of the season still proves elusive. The deserved point, however, edged them out of the bottom three and they have just eight games remaining to make sure they stay there. "I wish we were starting the season five games ago with the team we have now," said Warnock. "The quality we have brought in has added another dimension to our game. "We just need that bit of luck to go our way in the last few games." That "bit of luck" eluded Bury on more than one occasion at Vicarage Road. The tricky Paul Hall, who, with fellow on-loaner Carl Serrant, will stay at Gigg Lane until the end of the season, was seemingly hauled down inside the Watford box 10 minutes from half-time, but referee Mick Fletcher ruled first contact was made outside the area and awarded only a free kick. And deep into second half stoppage time Serrant whipped a gorgeous ball across the face of goal but both Hall and the outstanding Barnes swung and missed. "We definitely had the better chances," said Warnock. "I felt we were in charge in the first half and we tried to raise the tempo in the second to grab a goal. They had a good spell in the second half but we came good at the end. "We were a nat's breath from getting the three points." Bury's other big scoring chance was the first of the game when skipper Chris Lucketti, the usual rock in defence, watched his header from Serrant's cross palmed over the bar by Alec Chamberlain. Watford came closest through Tommy Mooney, whose 83rd minute header struck the cross bar, full back Darren Bazeley, who was twice denied by Dean Kiely, and Richard Johnson, whose 66th minute effort curled round the left hand upright |
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Sunday, 21 March 1999 |
| Barnes Was Lee Target - The Pink (Sent To Me By Michael Waring): Paul Barnes made his debut for the shakers midweek - but he could so easily have been playing for opponents Wolves. the 31 year old striker was a target for Wanderers boss Colin Lee before bury manager Neil Warnock swooped to land the marksman for £40,000 from Huddersfield. Lee said: "He was on my list...that's true. I fancied him on loan. I thought he did alright against us. He's awkward, sticks his backside into you, and is always going on to the linesman and referee." Lee added: "He has a very good goal-scoring record and it is goals that Bury need to get themselves up the table. they need someone to put it in the back of the net." Lee has joined the growing number of visiting managers critical of the Gigg Lane surface, hinting that it affects the style of play. Barnes, who was going to be a makeweight in the proposed deal that would have taken £1m rated Chris Lucketti across the Pennines to Huddersfield, will be vital in the relegation dog-fight. Warnock's strike force has been misfiring all season. the only forward player who looks close to reaching double figures is Frenchman Laurent D'Jaffo who is in disciplinary trouble, having picked up yet another booking on Tuesday. Warnock believes Barnes looks the part and reckons it will only be a matter of time before he's back on the goal trail. Warnock said: "He's a plus and I reckon will provide the finishing touches." On the positive side Steve Redmond has proven he's back in his best form but Dean Kiely has spoken of his bitter disappointment with the Gigg Lane crowd, who turned on him simply because his kicking was for once off target. the keeper said: "I'm bitterly disappointed with the crowd's reaction. The boo boys were on my back and there were sarcastic cheers when I got a kick right. I know my kicking wasn't perfect, but I have been here for three seasons, missed only one game and frankly didn't expect this kind of treatment. I just couldn't believe it...and that's an understatement. The squad spent Wednesday at Cheltenham hoping for a change in fortune. Said Warnock: "I was banned because they probably didn't want me to hear them swearing." Absent was Steve Redmond who said: "I'm a good boy so I stayed at home with my family." Warnock was so impressed with the City reserves who wiped the floor with the shakers second string earlier this week that he rang Blues boss Joe Royle to congratulate him about his young prospects. Bury Happy To Be Making Their Point - Sporting Life Web Site: Bury boss Neil Warnock was delighted with their fifth successive point after a goalless draw with Watford. He said: ``They made us favourites for the drop but we are certainly doing our best to prove them wrong,'' he said. ``I thought we were the better organised side in the first half and we had the best chances but then again, Watford who are desperate for points for a different reason, did hit the bar.'' Meanwhile Watford boss Graham Taylor said that the draw is not the end of the world, but admitted they do need to get back to winning ways. Taylor said: ``Our players have lost a bit of self-belief over the run but really they've got nothing to be down about. ``We're not going to get relegated and we've been in the top seven nearly all the season in our first year back in this division. ``That is something to be proud of but we really need a win to end this run and put a bit of that self-belief back.'' Bury Set To Leave Out Laurent - Nationwide Web Site: Bury's relegation plight has deepened with the news that top scorer Laurent D'Jaffo looks set to miss the trip to Vicarage Road to tackle Watford. D'Jaffo is rated very doubtful by manager Neil Warnock as he is still suffering from the groin injury he picked up in the 0-0 draw with Wolves on Tuesday. Paul Williams (knee) and Andy Woodward (back) both missed the midweek match and are still sidelined for the clash with the Hornets. But Lutel James returns after completing a lengthy four-game suspension. |
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Friday, 19 March 1999 |
| Shakers bid to keep Serrant and Hall - The Bury Times: BURY boss Neil Warnock was locked in talks with Newcastle and Coventry last night in a bid to keep Carl Serrant and Paul Hall until the end of the season. The duo complete their one-month loan spell in tomorrow's clash at Watford, but the Shakers manager is desperate to have them in his side for the crucial relegation dogfight. The Premiership stars have made a big impact at Gigg Lane since making their debuts against Norwich last month, although have failed to taste victory in their six games so far. Warnock said: "I am keeping my fingers crossed that we will have both players for our last nine games. I have spoken with both Ruud Gullit and Gordon Strachan and am waiting for phone calls. "However, I am very optimistic that Paul Hall will be allowed to stay on." Newcastle left back Serrant, aged 23, has helped strengthen the Bury back line while his inch-perfect crosses have been a constant threat to opposition defences. Coventry winger Hall, 26, has injected some much-needed pace up front, although Warnock admits he is disappointed the Jamaican World Cup hero has failed to find the net. "Paul is well capable of scoring. Perhaps it will come this weekend," he said. "Carl is quality. I think he needed us as much as we needed him. It took him two or three games to get into it. Either way, both players have done an excellent job for Bury and have settled in really well." Warnock has, however, ruled out any bid to keep one or both players on a full-time basis due to financial restraints. The Bury manager has been forced to make one change for tomorrow's trip to Vicarage Road with striker Laurent D'Jaffo ruled out due to a groin strain. His place will go to either Andy Preece, Adrian Littlejohn or Lutel James, who has completed a four-match suspension. The rest of the team will remain unchanged from Tuesday's goalless draw with Wolves (match report page 62) as the Shakers bid to record their first away win of the season and notch their first victory of any kind since December 5. "We have to go there to win," Warnock added. "We have to prove we can do it away from home. When we have the right men on the pitch, which we have now, we need fear no-one. "Man for man, we were better than Wolves this week. It was our best performance since September. We are good enough now and morale is sky high." Promotion-chasing Watford look set to have loan signing Guy Whittingham in their starting line-up tomorrow (kick-off 3pm). He knows all about the Shakers, having scored the winner against them only last month during a spell with Portsmouth. With the March 25 transfer deadline fast approaching, Warnock is bracing himself for bids for Chris Lucketti, Dean Kiely and Nick Daws. He is also circulating the names of six of his fringe players around the Nationwide League. "The phones have been quiet although there have been a couple of clubs asking after Mark Patterson," he revealed. Shakers take a positive touch - Bury 0, Wolverhampton 0 - The Bury Times: MENTION the dreaded R-word anywhere near Neil Warnock and his players over the next few weeks and you're likely to get your backside kicked! That's the message coming out loud and clear from Gigg Lane as the season enters the crucial home straight. The Bury boss wants no pessimistic talk of (whisper it) relegation in the dressing room or the training ground, from now on it's positively all the way. And a few more spirited performances like they showed against Wolves on Tuesday night should banish for good all talk of a return to Division Two. The first team squad headed for the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday and it's to be hoped they enjoyed more luck on the horses than they are currently encountering on the field of play. A third consecutive goalless draw in successive home matches was scant reward for probably their best, and most positive, display in weeks against a side with genuine play-off ambitions. It's beginning to sound like a well worn record but they just need that "rub of the green" to turn one-pointers into victories. Buoyed by the debut of new-signing Paul Barnes, Warnock's men gave the Wolves defence a first half battering with a series of quality balls from both flanks. The eight to nil corner count at the interval told its own story and Mike Stowell in the Midlanders goal must have been a happy man to have reached the half-way stage with a clean sheet to his name. Time after time the rejuvenated Shakers had the Wolves rearguard at full stretch and if it hadn't been for the resolute Keith Curle and Dean Richards at the heart of the defence the Shakers miserable record of one home league goal since the New Year would have been history. "If you'd have been a neutral at this game you'd have been hard pressed to say which was a play-off side and which was struggling," said Warnock. "But I said to the lads before the game the team that we now have, man for man, can beat Wolves. "We just had to play to our strengths and people were probably surprised just how much we did pass it around." Former Huddersfield man Barnes, who Wolves boss Colin Lee admitted had been a loan target for the Molineux club, was unlucky to see a header from an inch-perfect Chris Billy cross saved low to Stowell's right after 25 minutes. But the best chance of the half came from Carl Serrant whose curling corner kick completely bamboozled the Wolverhampton, keeper but was desperately headed clear off the line by former Manchester City ace Paul Simpson. Barnes' partnership with Laurent D'Jaffo showed much promise before the Frenchman limped off with a groin strain in the second half and it's as well that the Shakers have a two week break following Saturday's trip to Watford to get their leading scorer fit for the crucial final run-in. Another relative newcomer, Darren Bullock, fizzed a powerful effort just over the bar before D'Jaffo raced onto a neat ball by Daws but saw his angled drive blocked by the overworked Stowell. Despite the Shakers territorial advantage Wolves' dangerman Robbie Keane showed on a number of occasions just what a threat he can be and really ought to have put his side in front with a free header from a Neil Emblen cross a minute before the break. Just after the interval a curling ball from the right by Billy just evaded Barnes then after 51 minutes substitute Preece sent Hall away but the Coventry man fired wildly over the angle of bar and post. Midway through the half Emblen blasted a powerful effort over Dean Kiely's crossbar when well placed but the fact that the first Wolves corner arrived after 70 minutes was testament to the ease in which the Shakers handled the high-flyers. In the final minute Hall picked out Serrant at the far post with a superb cross but the Newcastle ace appeared to be baulked by a challenge by Serrant "We've got to go down when we are pushed in the box," said Warnock. "It would have been a penalty had Carl gone down but for some reason he stayed on his feet. "That's the difference at this level, we are too nice!" Tykes hold out in Roses stalemate - Bury 0, Barnsley 0 - The Bury Times: BURY need to find their shooting boots - and fast. If they don't, the goal drought that has seen the them score only once in front of their own fans this year is going to cost them their hard-earned First Division status. That much is certain after another goalless stalemate frustrated the Shakers' faithful and had them chanting for the head of beleaguered boss Neil Warnock. With the likes of Bolton, Sunderland and Bradford City all due at Gigg Lane in the coming weeks and away wins a very rare commodity indeed the Shakers really ought to be picking up three points from the likes of Barnsley. But a lack of firepower, bad luck and another highly questionable refereeing decision contrived to make them wait for a first victory in 1999. Tykes' boss John Hendrie hit the nail on the head when he said this Roses clash wasn't one for the connoisseur. The Yorkshiremen - also without a league win this year - could be forgiven for having one eye on their FA Cup quarter final tie against Tottenham but the free-scoring form they showed against Bolton last midweek was never in evidence. To be fair a dried-out pitch that had the ball ricocheting about around like a pin-ball didn't help matters either. But in truth the Shakers looked the only side that wanted the three points and although things aren't happening for them up front they seem to have sorted out the defensive frailties that have hampered them in recent matches. "If our defence had been as solid a few weeks ago we'd have got results out of games that we lost," said Shakers boss Neil Warnock who accepted the sponsors man-of-the-match award after receiving verbal abuse at the final whistle. "I'm disappointed not to have won but the lads have done everything they can and that's all I can ask." For the second successive week Chris Billy came the closest to scoring when he hit the woodwork three minutes after the interval. This time it was a screaming right foot shot from thirty yards that had Tony Bullock in the Barnsley goal beaten all ends up but the ball cannoned away to safety. Six minutes from time Dean West could only watch in dismay as his close range shot was blocked by the legs of Bullock after another Billy effort was charged down and quicksilver loan star Paul Hall was also unlucky with a couple of angled drives that were blocked by big central defender Chris Morgan. Morgan could consider himself fortunate not to receive his marching orders just six minutes into the game for a scything challenge on Hall. Referee Kevin Lynch elected to show leniency and merely brandished a yellow card, but the crucial moment in the game arrived a minute before half time when a miscued clearance by Arian de Zeeuw sent Hall racing clear on goal. Hall was unceremonially upended by Adie Moses but Lynch chose only to show the Barnsley defender a yellow card when it looked odds-on a sending off offence. After the game Hendrie said he thought Moses was lucky to stay on the field and even Lynch admitted after seeing a video of the incident that he had made a mistake. But that's just the sort of ill-luck the Shakers are having at present. "I think Kevin Lynch is a good referee but I feel sick to the stomach about that decision," said Warnock. "The words I'd use to describe it would get me into trouble so I'll leave it alone. "While the lads are disappointed they aren't downhearted. We just have to keep scrapping for the points and that might be the one that keeps us up!" Barnes storms in - The Bury Times: SHAKERS boss Neil Warnock has swooped to beef up his strikeforce by signing Huddersfield Town's Paul Barnes. The prolific goalscorer signed on the dotted line for the Shakers on Monday and his acquisition is a shrewd piece of business by Warnock who had targeted the 31-year-old for months. Only six weeks ago he was quoted a price of over £200,000 for the much-travelled striker so to capture the former York City and Burnley man for a knockdown £40,000 is a major boost for Warnock who sees him as the answer to the Shakers goalscoring problems. "I'm absolutely delighted to bring Paul here," he said. "He is a real value-for-money signing and we'll pay Town £10,000 in instalment for every ten games he plays. "He's really looking forward to coming and scoring a few goals for us and even grabbed a hat-trick in a reserve game the other night." Barnes was one of two players that Huddersfield offered in a £700,000 plus player deal for Chris Lucketti which broke down when the Bury skipper couldn't agree terms. But with one goal in their last five outings the acquisition of a player with such a proven scoring record can only be a positive move as the Shakers look to battle clear of the relegation places. |
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Thursday, 18 March 1999 |
| Review of Bury FC - Blind Stupid and Foolish - Watford Fanzine I don't own a Sony Playstation. Nor do I own a Nintendo 64. And I'm not into computer games generally... especially not football management simulations. Just not my type of thing. Or rather... not my type of thing because I know full well that should I ever succumb and wander down to HMV with my credit card trembling in my wallet, that my life, such as it is, would be over. The novelty buzz that would greet the first six hours solid of playing a game would develop into obsession. I would give up my other hobbies, and my friends, and spend all my spare time in front of the screen. Gradually, I would rearrange my flat so that the essentials (in reverse order : bed, lavatory, fridge, PC) were as close together as possible. Eventually, I would give up even ringing up sick for work, and arrange for Mr.Bharat down the road to pop over once a week with groceries. Deprived of even the most basic exercise, and gorging on Stella and packets of Cheese and Onion Crisps I would degenerate into a mountain of lard. Just when all appeared lost, I would apply for a punditry job on Anglia TV. Well, it worked for Alan Brazil. Seriously, the problem I always had with Management Simulations was a singular inability to learn from experience or vary my tactics. Consequently, every run of every game resulted in me gravitating to the same natural equilibrium of the six places covering the bottom of the Second Division and top of the Third. And there I would stay, optimistically hoping that THIS season would be the successful one, despite not having changed my approach one iota. Neil Warnock, of course, has been playing this game for real with any number of clubs for years. Whichever club he takes over becomes a clone of the previous in an utterly unlovely mould, and hovers around a similarly nondescript position of 21st in Division One. The current Bury side certainly fulfil all Warnock's criteria, and he's adding to the sculpture all the time. The recent signing of psychotic Swindon midfielder Darren Bullock could almost have been scripted, and means that in Bullock and centre-back Chris Swailes the Shakers now boast two of the worst individual disciplinary records in the division. The pair had amassed an awe-inspiring nineteen yellow and two red cards between them this season before Tuesday night. Current keeper is Irish international Dean Kiely, a recent target for Blackburn Rovers who will be looking to reacquaint himself with Allan Smart following a less than friendly encounter at Gigg Lane in October. Full backs are Dean West, who missed most of last season with injury, and England U21 star Carl Serrant, a former charge of Warnock's at Oldham currently on loan from Newcastle. Captain at centre-half alongside Swailes is captain Chris Lucketti, also a target of attention from clubs including Bradford, Blackburn and Huddersfield. Other options are Steve Redmond, veteran of almost five hundred League games for his other two Lancashire clubs, and former Man.City reserve John Foster. In midfield, Saturday will see the return from suspension of both Bullock and the equally indelicate Mark Patterson. Other options are the attacking Nick Daws, currently interesting his desperate former manager Stan Ternent at Burnley, Warnock favourite Chris Billy, and Jamaican international Paul Hall, on loan from Coventry and providing what limited attacking spark the Shakers have had in recent games. Striking options include Laurent D'Jaffo, whose unusual career path has taken him from playing alongside Eric Cantona at Montpellier to Gigg Lane via Ayr United. Adrian Littlejohn, a nippy but pointless striker who scored against the Hornets for Warnock's Oldham last season, one-time Watford loanee Nigel Jemson (still only 28, still not terribly bothered), and the blunt Andy Preece are other possibilities. Former Unibond League striker Lutel James is also returning from suspension, and this week Bury have also added Paul Barnes to their squad. A £50,000 signing from Huddersfield who has a good goalscoring record, it speaks volumes that the key attraction mentioned by Bury's website is that the 32-year old only has two bookings to his name this season.... Having started surprisingly well, Bury's season has capsized disastrously since November... the Shakers are in the dropzone and their manager under pressure. They haven't won an away game all season, and haven't won at all in fifteen games including Tuesday's draw with Wolves. They've only scored ten goals on their travels so far, and haven't scored at all in over five hundred minutes of football (five and a half games) at Gigg Lane. Two possibilities for Saturday present themselves. With Paul Robinson suspended, it seems likely that Ben Iroha, the least patient footballer of all time, will make a return to the Hornets' starting eleven. Within the first ten minutes he will pick up the ball and go on a kamikaze run tearing through the bemused Bury rearguard and leaving chasms of space behind him. Here comes the decision point: Version 1 is that Iroha cracks the ball past Kiely, and freed from the shackles of our recent lean spell and the pressures exerted by an impatient home crowd we go on to score six and book Warnock's P45. Version 2 is that Iroha's shot flies over the bar, through the portway and into the corridor at the back of the Rookery stand. In the latter case, make sure you have some alternative entertainment with you, we could be in for a lo-o-o-ng 90 minutes. For myself, I'll be bring a dozen eggs along and will amuse myself by chucking them at anyone who berates Bazeley, Smart, Hyde, etc., reserving real venom for the inevitable "get yer chequebook aht Taylor" contribution. Just don't bring any computer games. Warnock Convinced Of Survival - Nationwide Web Site: Bury boss Neil Warnock is convinced his side will avoid relegation - and believes new signing Paul Barnes will score the goals to take them to safety. After the goalless draw with Wolves, Warnock said: "Wolves were delighted with a point and we matched them man for man. "And I thought Barnes did superbly considering he's been playing reserve team football he will score goals for us." Pair Positive Despite Drab Stalemate - Nationwide Web Site: Bury and Wolves remain positive about their late season prospects despite playing out a dour goalless draw at Gigg Lane. The Shakers remain in the relegation zone with new boy Paul Barnes, who was set for a move to Wolves only last week, failing to inspire a change of fortune in front of goal. Bury boss Neil Warnock, whose side have not won since December 5, was pleased with his new signing's display - claiming he had been a snip at £40,000 - and he pointed to his side's battling quality as evidence they will avoid the drop. "I said to the lads before the game that the team we have now could beat Wolves man for man. I just felt we could go out there and play to our strengths," Warnock said. "It's nice to know that when you are playing a team like Wolves that they are calling for the final whistle and are pleased with a point. You wouldn't have known, watching as a neutral, which was the play-off side out there and which was the relegation scrappers. "I thought Barnes did superbly considering he's been playing reserve team football, in fact I feel that I couldn't ask more out of any of my players." Wolves manager Colin Lee viewed the result as a point gained in his side's promotion drive and even claimed the Midlanders would have surrendered the points earlier in the season. "Six months ago we would have lost that game but I have worked hard on gaining a solid base to the side and that was what got us a point," Lee said. "It wasn't pretty but that's three clean sheets on the trot for us and that's pleasing. Our forward play could have been better but I can't improve that with the players we have got." Lee was obviously referring to his failure to capture Barnes, having expressed an interest in the player. The Molineux board refused to stump up the cash for the 31-year-old hit man. Match after Thoughts - Sporting Life: Bury and Wolves remain positive about their late season prospects despite playing out a dour goalless draw at Gigg Lane. The Shakers remain in the relegation zone with new boy Paul Barnes, who was set for a move to Wolves only last week, failing to inspire a change of fortune in front of goal. Bury boss Neil Warnock, whose side have not won since December 5, was pleased with his new signing's display - claiming he had been a snip at £40,000 - and he pointed to his side's battling quality as evidence they will avoid the drop. "I said to the lads before the game that the team we have now could beat Wolves man for man. I just felt we could go out there and play to our strengths," Warnock said. "It's nice to know that when you are playing a team like Wolves that they are calling for the final whistle and are pleased with a point. You wouldn't have known, watching as a neutral, which was the play-off side out there and which was the relegation scrappers. "I thought Barnes did superbly considering he's been playing reserve team football, in fact I feel that I couldn't ask more out of any of my players." Wolves manager Colin Lee viewed the result as a point gained in his side's promotion drive and even claimed the Midlanders would have surrendered the points earlier in the season. "Six months ago we would have lost that game but I have worked hard on gaining a solid base to the side and that was what got us a point," Lee said. "It wasn't pretty but that's three clean sheets on the trot for us and that's pleasing. Our forward play could have been better but I can't improve that with the players we have got." Lee was obviously referring to his failure to capture Barnes, having expressed an interest in the player. The Molineux board refused to stump up the cash for the 31-year-old hit man. Patterson the target - Bolton Evening News: BURY midfielder Mark Patterson is a target for Third Division Southend United. Roots Hall boss Alvin Martin travelled to Bury to watch the 33-year-old, who he had on loan two years ago, play in yesterday's 1-0 reserve team victory over Hull City. Bury would want a nominal fee for a player who is currently out of the first team and on the transfer list. Shakers Need A Lucky Break - Bury Times: BURY'S first team squad head for the Cheltenham Festival today, it's to be hoped they enjoy more luck on the horses than they encountered during this game. A third consecutive goalless draw in successive home matches was scant reward for probably their best, and most positive, performance in weeks against a side supposedly with play-off ambitions. It's beginning to sound like a well worn record but they just need that "rub of the green" to turn one-pointers into victories. Buoyed by the debut of new-signing Paul Barnes, Neil Warnock's men gave the Wolves defence a first half battering with a series of quality balls from both flanks. The eight corners to nil corner count at the interval told it's own story and Mike Stowell in the Midlanders' goal must have been a happy man to have reached the half-way stage with a clean sheet to his name. "If you'd have been a neutral at this game you'd have been hard pressed to say which was a play-off side and which was struggling," said Warnock. "But I said to the lads before the game the team that we now have, man for man, can beat Wolves. "We just had to play to our strengths and people were probably surprised just how much we did pass it around." Former Huddersfield man Barnes, who Wolves boss Colin Lee admitted had been a loan target for the Molineux club, was unlucky to see a header from an inch-perfect Chris Billy cross saved low to Stowell's right. But the best chance of the half came from Carl Serrant whose vicious, curling corner kick completely bamboozled the Wolves keeper but was desperately headed clear off the line by Paul Simpson. Darren Bullock, fizzed a powerful effort just over the bar before Laurent D'Jaffo raced on to a neat ball by Daws but saw his angled drive blocked by the overworked Stowell. Despite the Shakers' territorial advantage Wolves dangerman Robbie Keane showed on a number of occasions that he had to be watched and he really ought to have headed his side in front with a free header from a Neil Emblen cross a minute before the break. In the final minute Hall picked out Serrant at the far post with a superb cross but the Newcastle ace appeared to be baulked by a challenge. We've got to go down when we are pushed in the box," said Warnock. "It would have been a penalty had Carl gone down but for some reason he stayed on his feet. "That's the difference at this level, we are just too nice!" Bury Lack KO Punch - Manchester Evening News: Even the most biased Madison Square Garden judge would have given this one to Bury - on points. The Shakers might not have been able to deliver the knockout punch but like Lennox Lewis, they deserved victory. Bury forced eight corners during a pulsating first half while Wolves, fielding stars valued at well above a million pounds had to wait until the 70th minute before their first flag kick. The visitors were mightily relieved to see the back of home striker Laurent D'Jaffo, who was forced to retire hurt, as he'd led the Bury onslaught with such courage and conviction. Paul Barnes, the £40,000 hotshot making his debut proved an awkward customer and was unlucky not to be hailed an instant hero when he misdirected a header from yet another excellent Paul Hall cross. Hall, man-of-the-match Carl Serrant and now Barnes have injected more quality into the always battling Bury team - and that gives even Gigg Lane's biggest moaners some hope that the drop can be avoided. The stats though are gloomy - four consecutive draws and only one goal at home all year! A midfield blunder by Darren Bullock almost cost the Shakers but keeper Dean Kiely saved Robbie Keane's header. |
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Monday, 15 March 1999 |
| New Boy Barnes In For Shakers Debut - Nationwide Web Site: Bury's new signing Paul Barnes is likely to be thrust straight into action against Wolves by Neil Warnock after joining from Huddersfield. The Shakers have agreed a fee of £40,000 with Huddersfield and Barnes has signed a contract that will keep him at Gigg Lane until the summer of 2001. Defender Darren Bullock has completed a three-match ban following his dismissal against Norwich, but Lutel James is still ruled out as he serves the final game of his four-match suspension. Paul Williams is again sidelined by his knee injury and Andy Woodward will not feature as he has a back problem. Shakers draw another blank - Bolton Evening News: THE Gigg Lane goal drought will cost Bury their First Division status if they aren't careful. That much is clear after another goalless stalemate frustrated their fans and had them calling for the heads of boss Neil Warnock and chairman Terry Robinson. The shot-shy Shakers have only scored once in front of their own supporters this year and it's a problem that needs addressing if their survival fight is to succeed. With the likes of Bolton, Wolves, Sunderland and Bradford City all due at Gigg Lane in the coming weeks the Shakers really ought to be picking up three points from the likes of Barnsley. But a lack of firepower allied to another dodgy refereeing decision contrived to make them wait at least till tomorrow evening for a first victory in 1999. Tykes boss John Hendrie hit the nail on the head when he said this Roses clash wasn't one for the connoisseur. The Yorkshiremen - also without a league win this year - could be forgiven for having one eye on tomorrow's FA Cup quarter final tie against Tottenham but the free-scoring form they showed against Bolton in midweek was never in evidence. In truth Bury looked the only side that wanted the three points and although things aren't happening for them up front they seem to have sorted out the defensive frailties that have hampered them in recent matches. "If our defence had been as solid a few weeks ago we'd have got results out of games that we lost," said Warnock who accepted the sponsors man-of-the-match award after receiving verbal abuse at the final whistle. "I'm disappointed not to have won but the lads have done everything they can and that's all I can ask." For the second successive week Chris Billy came the closest to scoring when he hit the woodwork three minutes after the interval. This time it was a screaming right foot shot from 30 yards that had Tony Bullock in the Barnsley goal beaten all ends up and cannoned away to safety. But the crucial moment in the game arrived a minute before half time when a miscued clearance by Arian de Zeeuw sent loan star Paul Hall racing clear on goal. Hall was unceremonially upended by Adie Moses but referee Kevin Lynch chose only to show the Barnsley defender a yellow card when it looked nailed-on a sending off offence. After the game Hendrie said he thought Moses was lucky to stay on the field and even Lynch admitted after seeing a video of the incident that he had made a mistake. But that's just the sort of ill-luck the Shakers are having at present. "I think Kevin Lynch is a good referee but I feel sick to the stomach about that decision," he said. "The words I'd use to describe it would get me into trouble so I'll leave it alone. "While the lads are disappointed they aren't downhearted. We just have to keep scrapping for the points and that might be the one that keeps us up!" Shakers in striker swoop - Bolton Evening News: BURY today swooped to beef up their strikeforce with a bargain £40,000 deal for Huddersfield Town's Paul Barnes. Shakers boss Neil Warnock has been on the trail of the 30-year-old for several weeks and was quoted £250,000 for the former York City ace marksman six weeks ago. The deal was expected to go through this afternoon and it represents an astute piece of work by Warnock who is getting his man for a knock-down fee which will be paid in £10,000 instalments for every 10 games he plays. Barnes was one of the players who Huddersfield offered in the £700,000 plus two players deal for Shakers centre half Chris Lucketti which broke down when the player turned down the Yorkshire club's personal terms. After scoring just one goal in their last five games, Bury are desperate for more firepower and hope that Barnes, a free scoring front man during many successful years at York City, will be able to come up with the goods to help preserve Gigg Lane's First Division status. Warnock said today: "He scored a hat-trick in the reserves the other night and I think he's looking forward to coming and scoring a few goals." Yellow Peril - Bury Times: BURY FC's fight for First Division survival is about to be tested to the limit by a freak disciplinary problem. No fewer than six Shakers players are walking a suspension tightrope that could end in tears during the crucial Easter programme. Chris Billy, Nick Daws, Laurent D'Jaffo, Chris Lucketti, Adrian Littlejohn and Paul Williams are all one yellow card away from suspension. And if any of the six are booked in the next three games they will miss Easter Saturday's away clash at Stockport County. "It's the worst case scenario but theoretically we could get two players booked tomorrow, two players against Wolves on Tuesday and two next Saturday at Watford and all six would miss the Stockport match," said Shakers chief Neil Warnock. "But that said, we haven't got to let that stop the lads tackling. We just need them to avoid getting booked stupidly for anything else." With midfielder Darren Bullock serving the last match of his three game suspension and Mark Patterson and Lutel James still sidelined the last thing the Bury boss needs is more enforced absentees at such a crucial time of the season. On the injury front Andy Woodward's back problem is likely to keep him out of the side for tomorrow's Barnsley game at Gigg Lane while Paul Williams has developed a knee injury that is causing concern and he was due to go for a scan on it yesterday. The Tykes, like the Shakers, are still awaiting their first league victory in 1999 preferring to save their best performances for the FA Cup. They are due to meet Tottenham Hotspur in a rearranged quarter-final tie at Oakwell next Tuesday evening but Warnock knows they are far too professional an outfit to have one eye on that match tomorrow afternoon. "I enjoyed my best time as a player at Oakwell," he added. "And it'll be nice to renew some old acquaintances again but obviously our first priority will be to pick up the three points." John Hendrie's side picked up a good point from a 3-3 draw against Bolton at the Reebok on Tuesday evening, fighting back from 2-0 down to go 3-2 up before Wanderers' substitute Eidur Gudjohnsen grabbed a late leveller. On Wednesday evening a young Shakers second string bowed out of the Lancashire Senior Cup to their Manchester City counterparts packed with first team experience. Tony Vaughan, Gary Mason, Richard Jobson, Nick Fenton, Danny Tiatto, Jamie Pollock, Danny Allsop and Neil Heaney all played for the Sky Blues. "It was a good experience for our young players but City just had too much for them on the night," said Warnock. Bore Of The Roses - The Pink: Struggling Bury failed to control their relegation nerves - and a lively pitch - in a grim Roses battle against Barnsley. Chances for either side in an X-certificate encounter could be counted on the fingers of one hand. It was a game buried under a mountain of mistakes and misplaced passes. The Shakers at least showed some desire to claim all three points and came closest to scoring three minutes into the second half when a ferocious 25-yard drive from Chris Billy crashed back into play off the underside of the bar, with Barnsley keeper Tony Bullock helplessly beaten. Bury had kicked off with an attack down the left which was comfortably mopped up by Blackmore. The Shakers switched their attack to the right only for their next surge forward to be ended abruptly by Mogan's scything tackle on Hall which brought a well merited booking. The firm pitch and lively ball made life difficult for both sides and it was 15 minutes before the Barnsley goal was threatened after Hall's deep cross from the right to the feet of Serrant. Serrant intelligently touched his pass sideways to Billy, whose fierce low cross looked to be heading straight for D'Jaffo until Tinkler came racing across to clear his line. The Yorkshire side were certainly not saving themselves for next Tuesday's FA Cup quarter final against Spurs and another crunching tackle - this time by De Zeeuw - left Billy writhing in agony. This time referee Lynch contented himself with a firm lecture, but the Barnsley skipper could consider himself lucky not to follow Morgan into Mr. Lynch's little black book. Chances were still few and far between at either end but the Shakers were almost handed a goal on a plate after Serrant's 20th minute corner. Under no pressure whatsoever, Barnsley's keeper Bullock unaccountably allowed Serrant's flag kick to slip through his fingers. But the startled Lucketti failed to take advantage as he gently lobbed his shot straight back into Bullock's grateful arms. Nothing so far had been seen of Barnsley as an attacking force, but the Yorkshiremen finally put together a decent attack after 35 minutes with Hignett sending Eaden down the right. Barnsley's adventurous full back cut inside Swailes to try his luck with a fierce left foot shot which Kiely saved. This low key match suddenly erupted seconds from the interval when a misplaced pass sent Hall streaking through towards the Barnsley goal only to be hauled down by defender Moses. It looked for all the world like a sending off offence and the Gigg Lane crowd showed their displeasure in no uncertain terms when referee Lynch showed Moses a yellow card. The Shakers came out fighting after the interval and were desperately unlucky not to take the lead three minutes into the second half with Billy's 25 yard screamer. |
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Sunday, 14 March 1999 |
| Stars call to arms - The Pink - Michael Waring again: Bury's winter of discontent is about to turn into much ado about nothing. At least that's the view of senior players Dean Kiely and Nick Daws. The pair survived the tempest of a dog-eat-dog relegation fight twelve months ago and reckon the experience will help the Shakers out of their current predicament. Still without an away win all season, the Gigg Lane side languishes in the First Division's bottom three, though there have been encouraging signs of a recent revival. "We have all made a concerted effort to get back to the Bury of old," said the Eire B 'keeper. "We must take charge of our own destiny." Keily, rated at £2m plus and the best in the Nationwide league by boss Neil Warnock, admitted that he and the rest of the players have been stung by recent criticism. "If someone says you cannot do your job, you either throw in the towel or come back even stronger and prove them wrong," he said. "You know what the answer is going to be from a Bury player and that is to grit teeth and play that little bit harder. No-one is throwing the towel in here. We all have to pull together. It was something I said last year and I didn't think I'd have to say it again but I do. We know what the par for the course is and that is fifty points," added the keen golfer. "It doesn't matter what anyone else does. We know our target and that we have to get there as soon as possible. There is still a backbone at the club who know what the Bury way is and it's up to others to adapt. The Bury way is a positive thing and people have started to say that what was our strength is now our weakness. That is wrong. It is the way we have to play. For the last two games we have been clued-in all across the board and it has shown, We have been hard to beat and it has got to stay that way." Daws, the current player of the season, has this week pledged himself to the Bury cause despite overtures from other clubs. He, too, has seen more of the 'old' Bury as they drew with Crystal Palace and Bristol City. "Our displays were reminiscent of those we put in at Luton, Watford and Brentford in our promotion seasons and against QPR last term," he said. "The manager has been using the senior professionals as sounding boards over the past fortnight and it seems to have helped the situation. We needed to get back to our old ways. I think the likes of myself, Dean and Chris Lucketti can play a big part in getting the message over. Confidence is quite good at the moment even though the draw at Bristol City sent us back into the bottom three. We were a bit despondent about it in the dressing room on Tuesday but the lads had a chat and we thought we could be quite pleased with our night's work." |
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Saturday, 13 March 1999 |
| Let's Build From Here - Warnock - Sporting Life: Bury's manager Neil Warnock described the goalless draw with Barnsley as disappointing. "But we are not downhearted. We were very strong at the back and we have plenty to build on," he said. "The referee had a good game but my view of his decision not to send Moses off would get me into trouble. But I am not moaning and it's a credit to my team when opponents with £1million on the bench come here to play for a draw." Barnsley's manager John Hendrie conceded that luck was on their side. "I knew this was going to be a horrible game and Bury's not the easiest place to come to. I am happy we finished the game with 11 men," he said referring to Moses' tackle which brought Barnsley's third yellow card. |
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Friday, 12 March 1999 |
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Bury face ban threats - Bolton Evening News: BURY go into tomorrow's home game against Barnsley walking a disciplinary tightrope. Six players are one booking away from suspension, leaving manager Neil Warnock facing more player shortage problems. The Shakers are currently without Mark Patterson, Darren Bullock and Lutel James through suspension and defenders Andy Woodward and Paul Williams are struggling with injury. And when Chris Billy, Nick Daws, Laurent D'Jaffo, Chris Lucketti, Adrian Littlejohn or Williams next get a yellow card they will find themselves facing a ban. It's an additional problem the Shakers must contend with as they bid to fight their way out of relegation trouble. But Warnock insists the suspension cloud hanging over them must not stop his players from battling as hard as they have in the last two games when they have picked up impressive draws to end a run of four straight defeats. "We haven't got to let it stop the lads tackling," stressed Warnock. "We just need them to avoid getting booked stupidly for anything else." Barnsley, like Bury, will be going in search of their first league victory of the year tomorrow and Bury will be hoping they have one eye on next Tuesday night's big FA Cup quarter-final clash with Spurs. Problems Mount For Warnock - Nationwide Web Site: Bury manager Neil Warnock is down the bare bones at Gigg Lane as suspensions and injuries play havoc with his relegation-threatened squad. Darren Bullock is serving the final game of a three-match ban, while Lutel James is at the third of his four-game suspension. They are joined on the sidelined by striker Mark Patterson, who is out for one game after collecting 11 yellow cards so far this season. And to add to Warnock's woes, Paul Williams is ruled out with a knee injury. Yellow Peril - Bury Times: Stalemate but Shakers get back to basics - Bury Times: Will we ever win away? - Bury Times: |
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Wednesday, 10 March 1999 |
| Shakers fight to the finish - Bolton Evening News: NEIL Warnock has warned his First Division relegation rivals to expect a fight to the finish, after scrapping for a point at Bristol City last night. Bury were 10 minutes away from their first win on their travels this season, when a home goal denied them. But boss Warnock refused to be downhearted and is predicting a close battle to survive. He said: "We are everyone's favourites to go down, but we are not going to give up without a fight. "I think Bristol City expected to win this one, but we surprised them. We were well organised and broke well from the back. "Unfortunately we let them off the hook, but I can't fault my players for the way they battled all game." City, whose only away win of the season has been at Gigg Lane, were booed off the field after a stale first half, in which they found themselves behind to a 17th minute strike from Laurent D'Jaffo. The Frenchman had already had the ball in the back of the net after six minutes but his effort was ruled out for hand ball. But there was no stopping him when Paul Hall slipped him a pass 15 yards out, to fire a rocket shot beyond keeper Steve Phillips. It was reward for the visitors bold start which was in marked contrast to their opponents nervous approach. Bury keeper Dean Kiely hardly had a save worthy of the name in the first half, but he saved his side from their 17th defeat of the season with a series of superb stops, Warnock later described as 'world class'. The Republic of Ireland International sprang low to his left to keep out Ade Akinbiyi's shot with one hand before diving full stretch to deny Jim Brennan. But there was nothing he could do when Danish sub Soren Andersen grabbed City's lifeline. Stan hit for six - Bolton Evening News: STAN Ternent gave the shortest press conference of his life last night as his Burnley dream turned to disaster. Ten months ago Ternent was a king at Bury after guiding the Shakers to two successive promotion successes and then surviving in the First Division against all the odds. But last night's embarrassing 6-0 home defeat by Manchester City, it could easily have been twice as many, was the lowest point in a series of disappointments since he walked out on Bury to take over his home town club. It was too much for the Burnley fans to stomach, especially as it came hard on the heels of a 5-0 battering by Gillingham in their last home game. They welcomed Ternent with open arms and a standing ovation when he held his first press conference on his arrival at the club last summer. Last night they filled the air with chants of "Ternent out" as the goals rained in. The manager never shirked his duty to speak to the press after matches during his two and a half years at Bury when things didn't always go his way. But what could he say last night. "I just want to say I'll be having a meeting with my chairman in the morning and we'll take it from there. I don't want to say any more." And out he went to leave his winger and outstanding performer Glen Little to fill in the gaps. "They could have had 12, 13 or 14 goals tonight. I just couldn't believe it. The fans keep coming but if it was me I'm not sure I would." Ternent's successor at Gigg Lane, Neil Warnock, has found himself under pressure from Bury fans who are disgruntled at seeing the side which brought the Shakers success broken up and the new side facing a relegation fight. Many Bury fans have said they would love to have him back, believing he could work miracles again. The irony is that while Warnock has been having a rough ride at Gigg Lane, Ternent has been living a parallel existence 20 miles away. D'Jaffo's A Saint And Sinner - Manchester Evening News: Laurent D'Jaffo was both hero and villain for the Shakers whose hit-and-run tactics almost gave them the relegation boost they so desperately needed. The hard-fought draw meant Bury slip back into the bottom three while their opponents have kept alive their slim hopes of avoiding the drop. The Shakers, marshalled at the back by skipper Chris Lucketti, took the heat out if the game, and top scorer Laurent D'Jaffo scored a brilliant individual goal after 17 minutes. The Frenchman had the ball in the back of the net after six minutes but was adjudged to have hand-balled a goalbound Lucketti header. Lucketti told MEN Sport :"Laurent scored a great goal getting the ball on the edge of the box, turning his marker and firing into the far corner. "He was the villain earlier though when he got my effort disallowed. No one mentioned that on the coach coming home because we were pleased to have got the point with a solid backs-to-the-wall performance. "They threw everything at us but we were strong like the Bury of old." City's 80th minute equaliser from sub Soren Andersen was a sickener for the Shakers camp. Man of the match keeper Dean Kiely, who pulled off a series of spellbinding saves, said: "We knew they would throw everything at us late on but we coped. We see this as a point gained rather than two lost. "We have now had two good performances back to back and the confidence they bring is there for everyone to see. "Slipping back into the bottom three doesn't bother us because we know we are playing well."We have been through all this before and we know what is required. It's up to me, Chris Lucketti, Nick Daws as the senior professionals who have been here some time to see the other lads through." Gigg Lane Chairman Terry Robinson said: "We were well organised and maybe we should have picked up all three points. The referee spoilt it." Bury may have problems but City's plight is worse. The home team were booed off at half-time and the reception at the final whistle was hostile with the Ashton Gate fans bitterly critical of Swedish boss Benny Lennartsson. Ron's International Rescue - Plymouth Evening Herald: Midfielder Ronnie Mauge could miss the home league game against Hartlepool United on Saturday after a surprise call up from Trinidad and Tobago. They want Mauge to play in a friendly in Trinidad on Sunday as a warm up for their international against Mexico. |
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Tuesday, 09 March 1999 |
| Shakers turn back the clock - Bolton Evening News: DEAN Kiely believes his team are getting back to the Bury of old. The Shakers have been increasingly criticised for losing their battling edge this season, sparking skipper Chris Lucketti to launch a furious attack on the bad mouthers last week. They hit back at their detractors with an impressive battling draw against Crystal Palace on Saturday to end a run of four straight defeats and go into tonight's relegation showdown with Bristol City with renewed confidence. Kiely said: "We made a conscious effort to get back to the Bury of old on Saturday. "Everyone was clued in and that's the Bury of old. At the end of the match I shook everyone's hand and told them I appreciated their efforts." Kiely, understood to be on Blackburn's shopping list for a new goalkeeper to replace the unhappy Tim Flowers, revealed the team's points target for the season and predicted they could take a huge step towards their aim at Ashton Gate tonight. "There are only a handful of teams better than us on our day in this division and Bristol City aren't one of them. "I said it last year, 50 points will do us. Regardless of how anybody else is doing, that's our target and we've got to be single-minded to achieve that as soon as possible." Right back Dean West is unlikely to recover from a chest virus which affected his breathing on Saturday and Andy Woodward is on standby to return to the starting line-up. Up front Adrian Littlejohn is challenging for a return with Andy Preece most under pressure for his place. |
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Monday, 08 March 1999 |
| Battling Bury make survival point - Bolton Evening News: A FEW more performances like this and the relegation rainclouds hovering over Gigg Lane should start to clear. While a home point against a crisis-torn Palace side was never going to be high on chairman Terry Robinson's gift list on his birthday, no-one could deny the Shakers fully deserved a first win in 12 matches, especially in a first half that harkened back to the heady early season days that promised so much. Neil Warnock's men could, and should, have been three or four goals up as they took the game to their South London opponents but the lack of firepower that has haunted them all season continued and denied them their full reward. The closest the Shakers came to breaking the deadlock came after 15 minutes when the impressive Chris Billy crashed a vicious 25-yarder against Kevin Miller's left hand post. "If you're top of the league they go in," said Warnock. "But you have to make your own luck. The pleasing thing was that there were 14 lads out there committed to the cause. "It's the teams with spirit that will survive the drop and now we've got to show that week in week out. You wouldn't have thought we hadn't won for 12 games on that performance." It was a fair appraisal from the Bury boss as the point lifted his side out of the bottom three and gave hope of a revival after a run of four successive defeats. Keeper Dean Kiely won't have had many quieter afternoons. He only had one save to make, superly turning over a swerving drive from David Tuttle midway through the first period. But that effort apart it was Bury who held the whip hand and at the break they must have been wondering just what they had to do to score. Laurent D'Jaffo saw a powerful goalbound shot blocked by the arm of Craig Moore and on-loan Paul Serrant, whose quality balls into the box were a constant menace for the Eagles, brought the best out of Miller with a stinging drive that he collected at the second attempt. Serrant turned provider seven minutes before the interval when another pinpoint cross found the head of D'Jaffo but the umarked Frenchman could only tamely direct his header straight at Miller. While the second half wasn't as productive from Bury's point of view Palace never looked likely to breach a home defence that looked a lot more solid than it had of late. Ever-dependable Chris Lucketti and Chris Swailes partnered born-again Steve Redmond in the back line and the trio never gave former Manchester City misfit Lee Bradbury a sniff of a chance throughout the 90 minutes. "I think Steve Coppell will have been pleased to come away with a point," added Warnock. "It's a big lift for everyone to get off the 31 point mark. Our target now is to make sure there are three teams below us at the end of the season." Kidd targets Bury aces? - Bolton Evening News: BLACKBURN Rovers could make a surprise transfer raid on Bury before the March 25 deadline. Ewood Park boss Brian Kidd ran the rule over the Shakers' home draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday with his interest believed to be focused on Gigg Lane pair Chris Lucketti and Dean Kiely. Lucketti, the subject of offers from Birmingham City, Bradford and Huddersfield Town already this season, is currently rated at £1.5m while keeper Kiely would command even more.Despite Blackburn's precarious position in the Premiership where they are currently in the relegation zone, their defence is not the major concern with 38 goals conceded in 27 league games. But Kidd could soon find himself wanting goalkeeping cover with Tim Flowers ready to quit the club after losing his first team place and Kiely is widely believed to be the outstanding talent outside the top flight. Bury full back Dean West is almost certainly out of tomorrow's relegation showdown with Bristol City after a virus prevented him from breathing freely during Saturday's game. |
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Saturday, 06 March 1999 |
| Point Helps Bury's Limited Ambition - Sporting Life: A goalless draw against Crystal Palace has lifted Bury out of the bottom three and put boss Neil Warnock on the road to fulfilling his limited ambition. "My target for the season is just to finish fourth from bottom," said Warnock. The Shakers, who have not won in 12 matches, missed countless chances, but the Bury manager was just pleased that his side returned to battling ways after some poor performances. He said: "What pleased me is that I've got 14 lads today committed to the cause and I cannot fault them. I applauded them all off the pitch. The team did everything they could - except get the three points." Palace striker Lee Bradbury said the off-the-field troubles at Selhurst Park did not put them off the game. "In training we may joke about the problems but we don't talk about it before the game," he said. "Gigg Lane is always a difficult place to come to but we are pleased with the point. "We are about 10th from bottom and today, we've got a point on Bury to help us escape from the drop." Warnock Is Safe - The Pink (Supplied by Michael Waring): Chairman Robinson is sticking by his man at worried Gigg Lane. Neil Warnock's job at Gigg Lane is safe - even if the Shakers slide continues and they are relegated to the second division. He was told by chairman Terry Robinson before he took over from Stan Ternant at the beginning of the season that money would be in short supply and the board would be sympathetic if the team failed. His position has been under the spotlight in some quarters this week especially as Bury have not won away all season and were by everyone's reckoning an embarrassment at Tranmere last weekend. Wily Warnock fully expected speculation about his job to surface - and it did with Macclesfield's Sammy McIlroy touted as a possible replacement. Fans had been suggesting McIlroy even before Warnock was appointed. But McIlroy, the last of the Busby Babes has adopted a style of play that is the virtual opposite of the Shakers up and at 'em tactics. That would mean a wholesale clearout of the Bury squad which has until late been highly effective, winning promotion in successive seasons. McIlroy was in fact targeted before wheeler-dealer Warnock was handed the job which is recognised as one of the toughest in the first division. The Pink understands McIlroy was due to be interviewed but the Gigg Lane chairman Terry Robinson was told he was staying with Macclesfield who like Bury are locked in a relegation fight. Warnock has heard it all before when things take a turn for the worse and Robinson's only comment on the record was that he and the manager will continue to work to change Bury's fortunes. The postponement of Tuesday's game against Wolves because Gigg Lane was waterlogged upset Warnock. He frankly admitted "A muddy pitch is a great leveller". The manager took the opportunity to watch today's opponents Crystal Palace at Sheffield United. the postponement also means that the club's £200,000 signing Darren Bullock who was sent off 11 minutes into his home debut will miss that same two games as midfield partner Mark Patterson - Bristol and Watford. The Shakers appealed against Bullock's red card but the policeman ref dismissed the appeal and told the club that he accepted Bullock's challenge when he appeared to crash into his opponents head was not deliberate but reckless. Warnock, who admitted nothing positive came out of the Tranmere game which sent Bury to second from bottom. He had threatened to make wholesale changes for Tuesday's game but it is understood he would have put out a similar line up under orders to show the club's famous spirit. |