LEE Clark is confident Bury’s improved display in their 0-0 draw at home to fellow League One strugglers Plymouth on Saturday could help kick-start their season.

The Shakers hit the woodwork three times, while Pilgrims goalkeeper Luke McCormick was their best player as they clung on for a goalless draw.

McCormick pushed Chris Maguire’s free-kick on to the crossbar while Bury new boy Michael Smith crashed the upright with an effort.

Substitute Mihai Dobre then brought a stunning save out of the visiting keeper, who pushed the on-loan Romanian winger's curling effort on to the post.

The stubborn McCormick, who played the last 15 minutes with an injury, made one final stop at the death, again denying Dobre after the Bournemouth youngster had got in behind the Plymouth defence.

Despite being held at home, Clark was pleased with the Bury performance, after his side gained their first point at the Energy Check Stadium since a 1-0 victory over Walsall on the opening day of the campaign.

“This could be the start of our season now,” he said.

“Did we want to win the game? Of course we did, we deserved to win the game. But unfortunately we didn’t.

“On chances, there was only one team that deserved to win.

“I felt for the players. The luck that we haven’t had, at both ends, has been crazy. I have to give great credit to the players.

“There is obviously a lot of tension, a lot of nervousness, but I thought we stuck to the task.

“We created the best chances and their goalie was probably the man of the match.”

Bury remain 22nd in the table after extending their winless run to seven matches, but Clark says he is up for the challenge of turning the club's fortunes around.

“I am loving being manager of Bury Football Club," he said. "The club is terrific, the people behind the scenes are fantastic, the facilities, the infrastructure.

“Yes, I know the supporters are frustrated and it’s getting directed at me and that’s understandable. I’m the boss, the leader.

“The players have shown me their commitment. We all care, we understand. I said to them 'let's start our season today. Put the first few weeks into the rubbish bin and kick on'.

“The results haven’t been what I, the club, the fans or the players expected, but are we working extremely hard to put that right. Are we going to do it? One hundred per cent we are.”

Dobre's introduction just before the hour mark was the catalyst Bury needed to up their intensity, and Clark was quick to praise the winger's impact on the game.

He said: “He has pace, but he beats people with a purpose as well. There are lots of players who have pace but don’t use it properly.

“He is distraught about not scoring the winner but I’ve told him not to be.

"He was fantastic. I’m never going to criticise anybody for missing an opportunity, I’d rather him be in there to do that.”

Match ratings

Bury (4-4-2): Murphy 7; Edwards 7, Aldred 7, Cameron 7, Leigh 7; Humphrey 7 (Lowe 67, 6), Ince 6, Laurent 7, Bunn 6 (Dobre 57, 7); Smith 7, Maguire 7. Unused subs: Fasan, Skarz, Williams, Styles, Cooney.

Plymouth (4-5-1): McCormick; Miller, Songo’o, Bradley, Sawyer; Ainsworth (Jervis 77), Fox (Lameiras 65), Ness, Sarcevic, Grant; Ciftci (Fletcher 68). Unused subs: Loeke, Blissett, Sokolik, Wylde.

Referee: Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).

Attendance: 3,642 (526 visiting).