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Timely break for Bury

I know this is belated, but I hope everyone back home had a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Well, we are now into the new millennium and most things are back to normal under our new player-managers Steve Redmond and Andy Preece. Bury had a very quiet time during the holiday season with the game against Cambridge being cancelled due to bad weather. So the only game we played was on January 3 against Millwall at home; we drew 2-2. Andy Preece later revealed that the management duo were unhappy with the side's display against Millwall, despite claiming a late equaliser.

"We really did get out of jail with Steve's late goal. I was disappointed with our performance, Millwall were the better team over the 90 minutes. Their work rate was better than ours. They just went about things in a better way, and we were fortunate to claim a point."

The late header by Redmond was his first goal for the club. Steve and Andy have admitted they are enjoying their roles as joint managers, and are just taking things as they come.

The late goal from Steve, which claimed the draw for the Shakers against Millwall, made it three games without defeat for us under the caretaker partnership. However, Andy is adamant that he doesn't think any of the players will be calling him boss, and he doesn't think he'd like that.

With Bury being knocked out of the FA Cup by Cardiff in the last minute of extra-time, and with Mansfield having knocked us out in extra-time in the Auto Windscreens Shield, it means that Bury have no game this Saturday or next week until next Saturday. It is a break from action of some eleven days since the 2-2 draw with Millwall last Tuesday. This break is specially useful for me, and I should be fighting fit again by then after a calf injury which kept me off the bench against Millwall last Tuesday night and is temporarily holding up my run in the reserves. The break ensures that I have a chance to shake off the calf strain and maintain my push for a starting place.

With Cambridge, Bury's planned opponents, in FA Cup action at the weekend, the next game in charge for the duo will be Wrexham at home on January 15. So we continue training under our player-managers and preparing for the next game.

Meanwhile, our former boss Neil Warnock sent his Sheffield United reserve side over to Gigg Lane and it proved to be a winning return. The Blades second string won the Pontins League fixture 4-1. It's been a real up and down week for managers with Bury FC connections. Neil ended the year well as he was given the Manager of the Month award in December for his run of 7 unbeaten games. Regrettably, his team was also out of the FA Cup, beaten 4-1 against Newcastle at St. James' Park.

For former Bury midfielder Sammy McElroy it was a dream start to the New Year when he captured the Northern Ireland international manager's job. However, for former Shakers boss Mike Walsh, who is assistant to Swindon Town boss Jimmy Quinn, there was bad news this week when he learned he was to be made redundant.

Off the field, Bury FC Supporters' Association are locking horns with Manchester City supporters in a quiz night planned for the Bury FC Social Club on January 28. The following day, BFCSA members hit the streets prior to the home game with Bristol City for the final survey aimed at finding out why the Shakers can't attract more fans.

The first venture amongst the populace is planned for January 15, the day of the Wrexham home game.

The Premier League scene is also beginning to hot up. At the beginning of 2000, Leeds top the League, (but Man Utd. have a couple of games in hand). Manchester City are again top of Division 1 and Wigan top Division 2. In fact, Wigan was the only team with an unbeaten record until last Friday, when they lost at home against Oldham Athletic, which is not bad when you consider that they have already played 25 games.

Not a surprise scoreline, but an extremely exciting game was served by Man City and Leeds played yesterday mid day. The game was fast, competitive and exhilarating with Man City taking the lead twice. The first half ended 2-3 to Leeds. The second half continued in the same vein, although it was now becoming clear that Leeds did have the upper hand. However, Man. City continued to battle on and there were times when you could forget that they are a Division 1 side. In the end, Leeds Utd. won 2-5. The game was played in very good spirit, with smiles and pats all round and with only one player booked per side. It was also an interesting game as we were watching the top of the Premier League versus the top of Divison 1.

That's all for this week. More on the Wrexham game in the next instalment.

(Gameplan)