BURY 0 STOKE CITY 1

THIS was a match so frustrating that even the long arm of the law got carried away.

Bury mascot Robbie the Bobby - based on Robert Peel, the founder of the police force - was bundled down the tunnel and ejected from the ground after inciting the away fans.

The mascot had "mooned" and allegedly made gestures to the 2,000 strong army of visiting supporters after City had taken the lead.

Shortly afterwards he was thrown out.

The man inside the costume, Jonathan Pollard, was shocked but not exactly apologetic.

"It was just a bit of fun," said Pollard, who only took over the job of being mascot man at the start of the season and is certainly more lively than the last Robbie.

"I showed my backside to the crowd and the stewards told me not to do it again.

"Then I ran past the fans after they scored and I got manhandled off the field."

Such was the amount of chances Bury once again created and missed, one could almost understand, if not condone, Robbie's actions.

Jon Newby hit the post, man of the match Greek defender George Syros headed over from close range and in a scintillating second half spell of pressure winger Harpal Singh caused chaos in the Stoke backline.

But, as usual, the ball just would not go in. To be fair, the lively visitors had their fair of chances and grabbed all three points through Jurgen Vanduerzen's splendid volley on 31 minutes, after Paddy Kenny had parried a shot from dangerman Bjarni Gudjonsson.

Preece's team have now lost eight games on the trot and are adrift at the bottom of the league by three points. But, when asked if he was feeling the pressure, the manager came out fighting.

"Regardless of the league position, this club is in a healthier position that when I came here 18 months ago," he said.

"We've cut a million pounds off our wage bill and there are 10 or 12 excellent young players here who are all worth a bit of money. If we can just maintain our position and stay in this division then this club has a great future.

"We are playing good football and creating plenty of chances but it is just that the results aren't happening.

"If we keep working hard though we will turn the corner. I don't like being bottom of the league and I don't want to stay there."

Preece cited tomorrow night's derby clash at high flying Oldham as "absolutely massive".

He's right. A win tomorrow and a lot of the gloom at Gigg Lane will disappear.

Defeat however and even Robbie the Bobby might feel the pressure.

BURY: Kenny 7, Unsworth 7, Armstrong 8, Swailes 8, SYROS 9, Reid 7, Billy 7, Jarrett 7, Singh 8, Newby 8, Lawson 7. Subs: Seddon (for Billy 79), Collins, Forrest, Murphy, Clegg.

Attendance: 4,727.