Millwall...3

Bury...0 BURY 'keeper Paddy Kenny could be forgiven for thinking he's upset some of his Gigg Lane teammates.

How else could he possibly explain the lack of protection he's received in the last two games?

Another grim first half defensive display gifted the Shakers' opponents three precious points for the second time in five days.

Following on from the midweek horror show at Cambridge it was the turn of high-flying Millwall to be the lucky recipients on Saturday when they, too, were allowed to run up a 3-0 half-time lead.

But at least the Shakers managed to keep eleven men on the field at the New Den with no repeat of the double dismissal that marred the Abbey Stadium encounter days earlier.

But even with a full complement the Shakers were truly second best to a side with real automatic promotion aspirations.

And only the form of hero Kenny saved the Gigg Lane men from an even more humiliating defeat.

The Lions opened the scoring as early as the seventh minute when a long ball by impressive winger Paul Ifill caused consternation in the Shakers' back line.

Hesitation from Sam Collins, who allowed the ball to bounce, was capitalised on by powerful striker Paul Moody who nipped in to pounce on the loose ball and slot past the stranded Kenny.

Four minutes later, as a warning of things to come, Ifill beat Ryan Souter on the right before setting up Neil Harris whose shot into the corner was superbly saved by the Bury man.

The Shakers rallied and enjoyed their best spell with skipper Nick Daws twice bringing fine saves out of Millwall 'keeper Tony Warner.

The second, a free kick on the half hour mark, was reminiscent of the cracker he scored at Burnley two weeks earlier but Warner managed to tip his effort over the bar.

Kenny proved his worth at the other end two minutes later when he superbly dealt with a free header from Moody but a minute later he was again picking the ball out of the net as the Lions doubled their advantage. Souter, in only his second full outing, was undone by the Lions' recent £250,000 signing from Wycombe Wanderers, Matt Lawrence, who got behind the defence before pulling the ball back for Harris who made no mistake for his 19th goal of the campaign.

After 40 minutes it was 3-0 when, following a half cleared corner kick, the hapless Collins again hesistated, allowing himself to be dispossessed by Ifill.

He fed young defender Joe Dolan who gleefully fired home his first goal of the season.

A minute from the break Ifill missed a great chance to make it four when he drove wide with only Kenny to beat and it was with some relief that the Shakers heard the half time whistle.

Boss Andy Preece replaced the out-of-sorts Collins with Brian Linighan for the second half introducing Paul Barnes into the attack at the expense of Matt Barrass whose right back berth was filled by Marvin Bryan.

Just like the Cambridge game days earlier the Shakers didn't allow their opponents to add to their tally in the second half.

But that was mainly thanks to Kenny who made a superb 70th minute penalty save from Moody after Souter had inexplicably handled in the box.

Danny Swailes was fortunate to get away with a booking when he pulled back Ifill then turned hero by deflecting a shot from the same player against the bar.

Linighan enjoyed a fine second period and proved a real thorn in the side of the Millwall defence from set pieces.

Paul Reid's pinpoint corner kicks picked him out on a number off occasions and in the 80th minute only a goal-line clearance from Dolan kept him off the scoresheet.

But the final word went to goalkeeper Kenny who, on the whistle, pulled off a great save from Lucas Neill when the Australian substitute got clear in a one-on-one situation.