It's Redders to the rescue!

BURY picked up their second point of the Christmas programme with a useful Boxing Day draw against bogey club Wigan, writes PHIL THORP.

The last four matches between the Lancashire rivals have ended in 1-0 wins for the Latics, but that sequence was well and truly squashed thanks to a 76th minute goal from (of all people) Steve Redmond!

'Redders,' who readily admits he isn't the most prolific scorer at the club, turned up with time and space in the Wigan box to lash home a powerful left-foot effort following a Chris Billy corner kick.

And, as he was only too happy to boast after the game, it was a strike that he had been planning all game!

"George Clegg had been taking all the corners and I'd explained to him that I was being left unmarked on the back post," explained Redmond.

"But then the gaffer took him off and I had to explain to Chris (Billy) where I wanted him to put it. Thankfully he delivered it superbly."

Billy, who only made the starting line-up after gastric bug victim David Borley failed to make it, had a cracking game and will have given boss Andy Preece plenty to think about ahead of the trip to Swindon tomorrow.

For all their big money signings Wigan looked second best to a Shakers team clearly gaining in confidence as the season unfolds. With Jason Jarrett a constant menace with his surging runs from midfield and Jon Newby and Gareth Seddon willing grafters in the forward positions, it was an uneasy afternoon for the Latics defenders and newly signed goalkeeper Jon Filan had a busier afternoon than Paddy Kenny.

In fact the former Blackburn Rovers custodian may have ended the first period picking the ball out of the back of the net had a snap shot from Seddon in first half stoppage time been a few inches lower.

The Shakers striker's effort clipped the crossbar much to the relief of the home fans who probably wouldn't have been aware of Seddon's years as a junior with the Latics.

At the break Preece told his players that he believed the game was there for the taking if they stepped up a gear.

But four minutes from the restart it was the home side that drew first blood when Andy Liddell, the biggest danger in Wigan's armoury, brushed aside a challenge from Sam Collins to blast a low drive past Kenny.

In recent years that would have been enough to secure all three points for the Latics as the Shakers had never scored since they moved to their impressive new JJB set up. However, always ready to counter with pace, Bury continued to pose problems for the home side.

Billy almost got on the scoresheet with a 72nd minute glancing header from a Lee Unsworth cross but made amends five minutes later with the flag kick that picked out Redmond for the leveller.

Former Bury loan ace Paul Dalglish came off the bench for Latics and almost had the last word when he picked out Simon Haworth with an astute ball but the Wigan leading scorer fired high and wide when well placed.

But anything less than a point for the Shakers would have been a big injustice and even Latics boss Paul Jewell spoke highly of the Bury display.

"I thought Bury played well and deserve credit," he said.

"They are a young side who are very quick on the counter attack and were always in the game, especially when they had their tales up after they scored."

Meanwhile Preece praised his side for their character and ability to force themselves back into the game after going behind.

"I couldn't believe it when we went behind and if we'd have lost this one 1-0 it would have been a joke," he declared.

"But we did really well and have plenty of character and belief in the team.

"Thankfully the 'old man' popped up with the equaliser and then I thought the celebration was going to kill him!

"We'd been winding him up in training about him not scoring so I think we are going to be in for some stick for a while now!"

BURY: Kenny 7; Unsworth 7, Stuart 7 (Hill, 54), Nelson 6, Redmond 7, Collins 8, Jarrett8, Billy 9, Newby 7, Seddon 7, Clegg 7 (Lawson, 68). Subs not used: Preece, Swailes, O'Shaughnessy.

Attendance: 6,751

Referee: Mr S. Mathieson (Stockport)