IT'S a case of "all hands on deck" for under-the-weather Bury boss Neil Warnock this weekend as injuries and illness bite into the first team squad.

A mystery stomach bug has affected the manager as well as strikers Paul Barnes and Ian Lawson, and defenders Steve Redmond and Paul Williams and Warnock is desperately hoping the situation doesn't worsen before tomorrow's visit of AFC Bournemouth.

Definitely missing will be unlucky defender Andy Woodward who limped off with a hamstring injury after 28 minutes of Wednesday evening's 2-0 defeat at Reading.

It's a double blow for Woodward who has only recently forced himself back into the first team after a niggling groin injury kept him on the sidelines earlier in the campaign.

And also doubtful is influential midfielder Paul Reid who picked up an ankle knock at the Madejski Stadium.

The result was a bitterly disappointing one for Warnock who watched his side put on a superb performance but, crucially, squander a great chance to take the lead when Darren Bullock missed a first half penalty after Ian Lawson had been brought down. The Royals went on to grab a goal just before the interval then added a second in second half stoppage time completely against the run of play.

"I thought we bossed the game for 80 minutes out of the 90 but we missed a penalty, a chance from a yard out and then they scored from their first cross - goals change games," he said.

"It was a game we never ought to have lost and even the press men down there said we caused them more problems than any team they'd played this season.

"They seemed content to soak up our pressure and keep a clean sheet but we really played well at times and there were a lot of pluses from the game."

Mel Machin's AFC Bournemouth will be a stern test tomorrow and will be looking to bounce back after losing at home to joint league leaders Bristol Rovers on Tuesday evening.

They are likely to be missing defenders Eddie Howe and Karl Broadhurst and midfielder Richard Hughes.

One piece of good news is that striker Lutel James will have a scan on his leg break today and, all being well, will resume light training next week.

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