OLDHAM ATHLETIC 4 BURY 0

PUNCHLESS up front and porous at the back, it's still early days yet but Bury's hopes of avoiding the drop look already doomed to failure if this wretched performance was anything to go by.

It was bad enough that Andy Preece's men racked up a ninth consecutive defeat, but it was the manner of this result that really stuck in the craw.

To be outbattled, out-run and out-thought is bad enough at any time, but in a local derby it is unforgivable and, given the current league position, suicidal.

If, as looks likely, this season is going to be spent battling the drop into Division Three on the evidence of Tuesday's display there is more chance of Robbie the Bobby getting an invitation to the Bury FC stewards Christmas 'do' than the Shakers staying the course! Preece, who for the first time in his 18-month stewardship heard the Bury faithful calling for his sacking, was forthright in his condemnation of his players and promised big changes saying: "I was disgusted with that performance.

"The players totally let me down tonight and I'm not putting up with it.

"I usually stand up for the lads, but it is them who should be facing the music after that display.

"When you have so many not doing justice to the shirt then you are always going to be struggling, whoever you play.

"I have no money to spend, but I might have to get rid of a few to bring fresh faces in because I won't put up with that kind of performance."

The only player who was spared the manager's wrath was young defender Chris Armstrong, while if it hadn't been for Paddy Kenny, the scoreline could have been doubled at least.

In the previous three defeats there were positive signs that, given the rub of the green, things might just be turning Bury's way. That wasn't the case at Boundary Park.

To add insult to injury, the Shakers finished the match with ten men after substitute Gareth Seddon was dismissed for dissent, ironically in a week that a referee had been brought in to Gigg to help curb the club's poor disciplinary record!

Rank bad defending was the order of the day for all four goals and the first arrived as early as the eighth minute. Craig Dudley found acres of space on the right wing to pick out Latics' skipper Lee Duxbury, who somehow evaded the attention of the Shakers' back line to place a free header past Kenny.

Shortly afterwards, Carlo Corazzin fired over after good work by Matthew Tipton and veteran David Eyres and Dudley almost nipped in with a goal for himself after dancing past a couple of weak challenges, but his 18-yard drive cleared the bar.

Late in the first half the Shakers began to show some mettle and Jon Newby should have done better with a close range effort after a Danny Swailes shot was deflected into his path.

Greek defender George Syros glanced a Paul Reid corner over the bar as the Shakers at last showed some level of urgency.

But it all went pear-shaped a minute before the half-time whistle when Corazzin and Tipton combined well on the edge of the Bury box and the latter had an easy chance to slide the ball past Kenny.

In the second half the Shakers reverted to a back three, bringing on Sam Collins for Lee Unsworth and reshuffled up front, replacing the ineffective Ian Lawson with Gareth Seddon, but the changes made no visible improvement.

The third goal arrived after 62 minutes when a deep left wing cross by Eyres was missed by all the Bury defence and Corazzin got a deft flick on the ball to send it past Kenny from six yards.

The Shakers keeper made two outstanding saves from Tipton and Paul Rickers and the last straw for the Shakers fans arrived when striker Jon Newby was substituted by midfielder Martyn Forrest.

Preece later admitted that his message to coach Andy Feeley from the stand was misinterpreted and Harpal Singh should have been replaced!

Another goal always looked on the cards for the Latics and duly arrived two minutes into stoppage time when Mark Allott raced clear and shot home just inside the post.

BURY FORMGUIDE: Kenny 7, Unsworth 5 (Collins 45, 5), Swailes 5, Syros 5, Armstrong 6, Billy 5, Jarrett 5, Reid 5, Singh 5, Lawson 5 (Seddon 45, 4), Newby 5 (Forrest, 72, 5). Subs not used: Clegg and Murphy. REF: Mr M. S. Pike ATT: 5,605.