LEE Clark is calling on his side to keep their cool and claim the bragging rights as Bury gear up for a relegation six-pointer at rivals Oldham on Saturday.

Clark and Latics boss John Sheridan have both this week been nominated for the League One manager of the month award for February after dragging their respective sides out of the drop zone.

Bury are one point and one place above Oldham, who are 20th, so when the two teams go toe-to-toe this weekend Clark is expecting a fiery encounter.

But the manager warned his players not to lose their heads.

“You have got to have controlled aggression,” Clark said. “You cannot lose your discipline.

“To win any football match it’s hard enough with 11. If you haven’t got 11 players on the pitch it will make it difficult.

“So you have got to have a cool head as well as having that aggression to your game.”

A large contingent of Bury supporters are expected to make the 13-mile trip across Greater Manchester.

Clark has already taken note of the support received since taking over the reins at Gigg Lane and is hopeful he can repay the Bury faithful with victory this weekend.

“You have obviously got local bragging rights, which always come in to play,” Clark added. “You need to do that for your supporters.

“The support has been brilliant to the players. It’s really appreciated.

"It is easy to support and cheer a team off when they have won but the reaction after the Gillingham defeat was impressive too.

“If we continue where we left off against Gillingham and get the rub of the green, which we didn’t have on Saturday, then there’ll be more than enough to win the game."

And on his head-to-head with Sheridan?

“I have come across John (Sheridan) many times with various different clubs," said Clark. "He is a very experienced manager. He has experienced everything in the game.

“We know this is a tough game for many reasons. We are both in the same area of the table, it’s a local derby and we need to be at our best.”