Preston North End’s slump down the League One table continued as on loan Liverpool man David Amoo’s strike succumbed Phil Brown’s men to their fourth straight league defeat.
The pressure on North End boss Phil Brown is thickening, as the Lilywhites have now only picked up a solitary point from their last nine league outings.
Bury manager Richie Barker who was looking for his sides third straight league win, opted for the same starting eleven that were impressive in their defeat of Walsall last weekend.
Brown made five changes to his team that were knocked out of the FA Cup by League 2 Southend United on Tuesday.
But, Brown was boosted by the return of Jamie Proctor who was playing alongside Neil Mellor and Jonathan Forte in a three pronged attack, whilst he also gave starts to both loan signings Jamie McCombe and Nathan Doyle who joined from Huddersfield Town and Barnsley respectively.
Clarke Carlisle sat out the game due to suspension along with Danny Mayor, Adam Barton and Juhvel Tsoumou who dropped out altogether.
It took 12 minutes for the first sight of goal as a swift North End counter led by Mellor allowed Forte to test Cameron Belford down low, but he tipped the cross shot away.
Forte went close again on 14 minutes as he held off two Bury defenders before firing into the side netting from 20 yards.
But seconds later Bury took the lead against the run of play with a clinical counter attack of their own following a North End corner.
Peter Sweeney advanced with the ball and set Amoo free down the right.
He held off Doyle, cut inside and dinked a cool finish over the advancing Thorsten Stuckmann.
Despite the setback, North End continued to play some attractive football, but they failed to produce in the final third.
Amoo who was giving Paul Parry a torrid time on the right wing went close to doubling the Shaker’s lead on 33 minutes as his audacious back heel from 5 yards was superbly saved low down by Stuckmann.
At the other end, Paul Coutts deep cross found Proctor at the back stick, but his cross trickled under Belford and across the goal-line before being hacked to safety.
It was then Bury’s turn to attack as Mike Jones found space in the centre, he played in Andy Bishop, but Stuckmann denied Bury’s top scorer saving with his feet from 10 yards.
The Shaker’s pressed in the closing minutes of the first half, Sweeney’s cross-shot bounced awkwardly in front of Stuckmann, but the German did enough to divert the ball away.
A chorus of boos rang out from the travelling North End contingent and Phil Brown reacted by sending his players out early for the second half.
That nearly paid dividends as Coutts’ searching run allowed Forte to cross, but his pull back evaded everyone.
Ten minutes later, Mellor tested Belford with a powerful effort from 12 yards, but the stopper tipped over.
On 63 minutes, Doyle’s inswinging free kick from the left found McCombe whose header was sliced wide by substitute Keammar Daley.
Phil Picken then tested Stuckmann from 25 yards, but the German tipped around his fierce drive around the post.
From the resulting corner Amoo’s back post header was headed off the line by Barry Nicholson.
Amoo was at it again on 70 minutes as his deep cross looked like it had found the far corner, but Stuckmann again tipped over following good work from substitute Lenell John-Lewis.
That man Amoo once more cut in from the right on 77 minutes, beat two defenders, but could not beat Stuckmann who again denied the talented winger with his feet from 8 yards.
North End pressed and their recent record of failing to score in their last three games was inches away from being broke on 82 minutes.
Substitute David Gray floated a cross to the far post and loanne McCombe rose highest to beat Belford with a looping header, but not the crossbar.
But, Bury held on for only their third home league win of the season.
You can also follow Jamie on twitter: @Jamie_Journo
Kirkland leaves Wigan Athletic with heavy heart
(Wed 23/05)
Blackburn Rovers target Ki focused on Celtic
(Wed 23/05)
Post a comment