Oldham 4, Shakers 0

IT'S still early days but Bury's hopes of avoiding the drop look doomed to failure if this wretched performance is anything to go by writes Phil Thorp

Andy Preece's men may have racked up their 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 any time but in a local derby it is unforgivable and, given the current league position, suicidal.

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 have 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 had not been for Paddy Kenny the scoreline could have been doubled at least.

To add insult to injury the Shakers finished the match with 10 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 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! The first goal arrived as early as the eighth minute when 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.

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.

George Syros glanced a Paul Reid corner over the bar as the Shakers at last showed some level of urgency. But it all turned 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.

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 but 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.

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. Attendance: 5,605.