SHAKERS boss Andy Preece is looking for a full ninety minutes display from his players ahead of Saturday's home clash against Darlington (3pm).

The Bury manager has been disappointed with their level of performance believing they have a tendency to switch off for 30 minute spells in recent league matches.

Last weekend's 3-1 home defeat was a good example when the side appeared to be cruising to a 1-0 victory only to fall apart in the last third and concede three sloppy goals.

It's a malaise that has resulted in the Shakers taking just two points from their last twelve, a record that's seen them slide down the Third Division table.

As far as Preece is concerned the sooner the problem is brought to an end the better.

"Sometimes we'll put in 60 minutes in a row or occasionally we fall asleep for 15 minutes either side of half time," he said.

"On the whole our football has been okay but these lapses have been our undoing recently and they have to stop.

"The thing is when we play for the full 90 minutes it will take a very good side to live with us.

"We need to get back and kick on again, we are only three points from a play-off place, six behind second place and eight behind the leaders.

"We are still bang in there but tomorrow's game is important as we need to get back to winning ways."

The boss hadn't ruled out making one or two changes to the side for Saturday's game and was hoping for some good individual displays from Wednesday's reserve clash at Sheffield United to give him food for thought.

However, a 4-2 defeat, courtesy of a miserable first half display, was just what the boss didn't want although there was an improvement in the second period, boosted by two goals from Gareth Seddon.

"Our first fifteen minutes was a complete shambles and we were three goals down before we knew what had hit us," said Preece.

"Some of the goals we conceded were embarrassing.

"I told the players during the week and before the game that a number of them had a good chance of being involved at the weekend and that it was a good opportunity for them to stake a place in the first team.

"Unfortunately not too many of them took up the challenge."