BURY manager David Flitcroft dismissed claims the Shakers would be in a relegation dogfight this year following their surprise 2-0 victory at home to title contenders Charlton Athletic.

Summer signing Neil Danns and second-half substitute Kelvin Etuhu scored the goals, which ended an eight-year wait for an opening day win.

Most bookmakers have Bury down as the third favourites for the drop, but after convincingly beating a side that were playing Championship football last season, Flitcroft says the reduced pressure is more of a help than a hindrance.

“I think it helps that everyone in the media and every betting service think that you're going to go down,” he said.

“At the (recent) fans' forum we had calls that we were going to get relegated but there's a lot of fight in that dressing room.”

Bury fielded five debutants in the starting XI, but Flitcroft said a positive pre-season helped them come firing out of the blocks.

We're in our rhythm, we had a really good pre-season, won a lot of games behind closed doors and we've performed really well.

“That's eight weeks of preparation and we got the performance. We richly deserved the win and the clean sheet was the key.

“The plan was to deny them space and the willingness the group showed to get all over the Charlton players was excellent.

"The lads executed the game plan and more importantly had the work ethic. They outran Charlton.

“To go through the remodelling of the squad that we have, you want to see elements of your work and that was evident.

"I'm delighted with the win and delighted with the players.”

The Shakers came the closest to an opener in the first half through Jacob Mellis, who fizzed a 30-yard pile-driver narrowly past the post.

Soon after Greg Leigh smashed a long-range volley over the bar after a corner fell to his feet midway inside the Charlton half.

The visitors' first shot came on the half-hour mark when Nicky Ajose almost caught out Ben Williams in the Bury goal with a long-range shot, but the keeper palmed the ball to safety.

Charlton almost took the lead at the start of the second half when Ricky Holmes burst down the right and smashed a shot against the bar.

In the 71st minute winger Danny Mayor came off the bench to force Declan Rudd into a great save with a fine header from Danns' free-kick.

From the resulting corner, Nathan Cameron was fouled and Danns expertly converted from the spot to put the Shakers ahead.

Etuhu was introduced in the 74th minute in place of Mellis to give added protection to the back four, but 12 minutes later he doubled Bury's lead, converting Zeli Ismail's corner from close range.

Bury's defence provided a fantastic foundation as the Shakers pushed on for more goals, but none were needed and fans were jubilant with a well-deserved three points at the final whistle.

Flitcroft's substitutes played a major part in both goals, and the manager explained why he started with his two tricky wingers – Mayor and Ismail – on the bench.

"The players who haven't played as much game time, we are trying to get them through their injury problems," he said.

“Danny (Mayor) probably had half an hour in him. He has only trained five or six times (since he broke his foot against Southend on the final game of last season). He has been with Paul Morgan (club physiotherapist) most of the pre-season.

“Zeli (Ismail) has been in and out of training and (Andrew) Tutte has been in and out of training.

"They have had their own training programmes.”

Bury (4-3-3): Williams 7; Jones 7, Kay 8, Cameron 8, Leigh 7; Soares 7, Danns 9, Mellis 7 (Etuhu 74, 7); Hope 6 (Ismail 57, 7), Clark 5 (Mayor 57, 7), Pope 6. Unused subs: Rachubka, Tutte, Brown, Dudley.

Charlton Athletic (4-4-2): Rudd; Solly, Pearce, Johnson, Fox; Holmes, Foley (Hanlan 84), Crofts, Jackson; Ajose (Lookman 68), Novak. Unused subs: Phillips, Mildoon, Hearne-Grant, Holmes-Dennis, Konsa.

Referee: Nigel Miller (County Durham).

Attendance: 4,037 (1,015 visiting).