Bury 0, Bradford 2

IT was a disastrous Bank Holiday for the Shakers as they plummeted back into the relegation zone.

This 19th successive game without a victory - equalling a record set more than 80 years ago - combined with the worst possible results at the foot of the table, saw Bury drop to second from bottom with only six games to play.

All three clubs below them prior to kick-off - Bristol City, Crewe and Port Vale - recorded victories while Oxford fought back from two goals down to snatch a draw at Tranmere.

Warnock, under pressure to quit from supporters by the end of the game, stuck by the starting 11 that picked up a point at Stockport on Saturday with leading scorer Laurent D'Jaffo replacing Andy Preece on the bench.

But roared on by a superb travelling support high-flying City set about their task with relish.

In the third minute £1m new boy Dean Windass was inches away from a cross from dangerous winger Peter Beagrie, then, moments later, it took a superbly timed tackle from Bury skipper Chris Lucketti to deny Jamie Lawrence a shot at goal.

Beagrie should have done better with a 14th minute effort but he fired wide of Dean Kiely's right hand post after cleverly working himself a clear shooting opportunity.

The Shakers front line were having trouble countering the Bantams' effective offside trap but when Barnes finally got free of Ashley Westwood down the right he dragged his low shot straight into the hands of keeper Gary Walsh.

The first hammer blow after 28 minutes when Windass reacted first to head home Beagrie's precision corner, his first goal since his move from Oxford. Derek Lilley had a half volley blocked by City's Wayne Jacobs after Walsh only got half a punch to a long throw by Nick Daws.

But things worsened for the Gigg Lane men two minutes before the break when man of the moment Windass grabbed his and Bradford's second from a short, well-worked corner.

After the break D'Jaffo and Adrian Littlejohn replaced Dean West and Lilley as Warnock's men attempted to drag themselves back into the game.

Windass' confidence was by now sky-high but even he would have been fortunate to have beaten Kiely with the audacious 35 yard shot he attempted after 51 minutes.

A foul by Jacobs on the increasingly frustrated D'Jaffo after 67 minutes gave the Shakers a free kick just outside the box, but City's 21-goal striker Lee Mills just beat Lucketti to Serrant's measured dead ball kick.

Barnes worked tirelessly up front for no reward but his frustration also got the better of him after 69 minutes when he was booked after a bust-up with Westwood.

A minute later City had a penalty appeal turned down when Beagrie went over in the box under a challenge from Swailes.

Bury fans were streaming for the gates minutes from the end as it became evident it was to be yet another sorry goalless sob story for their side.

BURY FORMGUIDE: Kiely 7, West 6, Serrant 7, Daws 6, Lucketti 7, Redmond 7, Swailes 7, Lilley 6, Barnes 7, Bullock 6, Billy 6. Subs: Foster, D'Jaffo 7, Littlejohn 6.

ATTENDANCE: 8,000 (3,944 Bradford).

REFEREE: B. Coddington (Sheffield).

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