Bury 0 Brighton 2 by Steve Canavan

SOMETIMES there is no point moaning about the referee, bad luck, the weather, crippling injury lists or the grass being too long.

Sometimes you just have to accept that you are beaten hands down by a superior side. That is what happened to Bury on Saturday and, to his credit, manager Andy Preece admitted the glaringly obvious.

"Brighton are a very well organised unit and thoroughly deserved their win today," he said. "We were on the back foot from the very first kick and they had their first shot after about 10 seconds.

"There was no spark about our play, we looked lifeless and that is disappointing because before the game I felt very confident about getting a win."

In truth though, that was never going to happen. Brighton are not top of the league and unbeaten in 12 matches for nothing. And in striker Bobby Zamora they have a born finisher who looks destined to play in the Premier League. He scored his eighth goal in as many games on Saturday - his 17th of the season - and was impressive throughout, a fact not lost on the watching Bolton and Everton managers, Sam Allardyce and Walter Smith. His goal came on 61 minutes, a sublime chip over Bury keeper Glyn Garner from 35 yards.

That added to a slightly luck first half strike from Paul Brooker. Steve Redmond - whose initial mistake led to the chance - cleared Brooker's first effort off the line, but the winger tried his luck again ("I meant to cross it" he said after) and the ball deflected off Danny Swailes' boot and went in.

The Shakers fought gamely but rarely threatened to breach the Seagulls back line. Substitute George Clegg came closest when his 86th minute free kick rattled the crossbar.

BURY: Garner 6, Unsworth 6, Stuart 7, Nelson 6, Redmond 5, Swailes 6, Reid 7, Jarrett 6, Singh 7, Newby 7, Seddon 6. Subs: Borley (for Redmond 46), Clegg (for Reid 61), Lawson (for Seddon 61), Connell, Hill. Att: 3,782