PETERBOROUGH 1, SHAKERS 0: Alan Knill doesn't do hard luck stories.
For all Bury's endeavour against a side described as the Manchester United of League Two, the new manager didn't want to hear how well his side had done as he trudged disappointedly from the pitch at London Road.
Dean Keates - the smallest man on the pitch at 5ft 6ins - had out-jumped one of his own men at the far post to head what proved to be the winning goal. That prompted a black and white response from the Shakers boss.
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"Someone has just said unlucky,'" Knill fumed. "We're just unlucky losers. That's a fact, I'm afraid.
"The frustrating thing this is that we think we have done well. We haven't done well, we have lost. And we were good enough to win here today."
Bury had virtually done the hard work, having stifled a front three of George Boyd, Aaron McLean and Craig Mackail-Smith, who share an amazing 56 league and cup goals between them, for nearly an hour.
And had it not been for the brilliance of Posh keeper Joe Lewis, Knill's side could have had a lead to defend.
Adam Rooney blasted a good chance over the bar just five minutes in before Lewis made his first fine save of the afternoon, reaching to tip over Paul Scott's dipping volley.
Peterborough sparked some nervous moments in the Bury back line at times, particularly when the tricky Boyd worked his magic on the left. But Darren Randolph was largely a bystander for much of the first half.
But Posh improved after the restart, driven forward on the right by Claude Gnapka. Mackail-Smith glanced a header just wide of the post and McLean brushed the woodwork with a fierce volley.
Andy Bishop had been given little opportunity to add to his 17 goals this term, and he needed only half a chance to bring yet another good save out of Lewis with a curled shot from 25 yards.
Just a minute later, Gnapka found more space on the right before looping a cross to the far post where, much to Knill's chagrin, the diminutive Keates out-leapt Steven Haslam to arch a header over Randolph and inside the post.
Bury still had chances for an equaliser. Nicky Adams broke through only to be denied once again by the legs of Lewis, with Gnapka on hand to make a last ditch clearance when Elliott Bennett looked to stab in the rebound.
Bishop looked for a repeat of his famous free-kick at Bradford, but curled his effort narrowly wide of the post.
Knill was particularly critical of the way Peterborough grabbed their winning goal.
"The smallest man on the pitch out-jumps us at the far post? It's unacceptable.
"I have spoken to Steve Haslam, and to Darren Randolph about the way the goal went in and it needs sorting out quickly before we go to Brentford on Tuesday night."
Posted by: grant mcbriar, Knillville on 11:39am Mon 3 Mar 08
I wansn't expecting anything but a bruising heavy defeat, at least the manager can take comfort in the knowledge that the lads defended well in the first half when we usually conceed a goal or two especially at the lane,i think his chief concern is the lack of clinical finishing, they must find a way of giving themselves several opportunities when attacking so that if the goalkeeper does make a save there is always someone standing close by like Simon Yeo to tap in the rebound, always expect the unexpected and you will score lots of scruffy goals, sit on the central defenders in expectation that they might make a mistake it always works when they do the same to Bury at Gigg lane.
Finally making sustained attacks will always produce goals as eventually the opponents defence will crack.
We need a class midfielder to protect our defence and drive forward.
I wansn't expecting anything but a bruising heavy defeat, at least the manager can take comfort in the knowledge that the lads defended well in the first half when we usually conceed a goal or two especially at the lane,i think his chief concern is the lack of clinical finishing, they must find a way of giving themselves several opportunities when attacking so that if the goalkeeper does make a save there is always someone standing close by like Simon Yeo to tap in the rebound, always expect the unexpected and you will score lots of scruffy goals, sit on the central defenders in expectation that they might make a mistake it always works when they do the same to Bury at Gigg lane.
Finally making sustained attacks will always produce goals as eventually the opponents defence will crack.
We need a class midfielder to protect our defence and drive forward.
Posted by: Devoid of any style, Bromley Cross on 1:14pm Mon 3 Mar 08
We cannot take comfort in a decent performance, if we do not get something out of the game. It is too late in the season to look for positives in defeat. Knilly is making the right noises post match, but the players need to respond before we are relegated.
We cannot take comfort in a decent performance, if we do not get something out of the game. It is too late in the season to look for positives in defeat. Knilly is making the right noises post match, but the players need to respond before we are relegated.
Posted by: Snake Hips Burrows, Harwood on 1:27pm Mon 3 Mar 08
Devoid, I take your comments on board but do you really think someone as sadly lacking in the style department has any right to pass comment?
[bold]No.[/bold]
Devoid, I take your comments on board but do you really think someone as sadly lacking in the style department has any right to pass comment?
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