By Mikael McKenzie

BURY fell to their second defeat in a week as they dropped down to 10th place in the League One table.

Shaun Williams' early strike proved to be the winner on an afternoon when chances were few and far between.

Shakers boss David Flitcroft switched to a 4-5-1 formation as he bid to bolster his midfield for the trip to the New Den.

Tom Soares and Danny Mayor returned to the starting line-up after missing the midweek defeat to Scunthorpe, replacing young forward Danny Rose and midfielder Danny Pugh.

The changes had an effect early on as centre-back Peter Clarke almost headed the Shakers into an early lead inside two minutes when he connected with Chris Hussey's tantalising free-kick from the right but home goalkeeper Jordan Archer managed to scramble to ball off the line.

Four minutes later the hosts had their first chance of the afternoon when Fred Onyedinma was sent racing through on goal but Bury's brave on-loan stopper Daniel Bachmann pounced at the feet of the forward to save.

Millwall took the lead in the 14th minute when Williams, the Lions' stand-in skipper in the absence of Tony Craig, picked up the ball 25 yards out and unleashed a powerful low drive that beat Bachmann at his near-post.

With his side under increasing pressure, Flitcroft opted to roll the dice in the 37th minute in an attempt to get back into the game.

Rose came on for Craig Jones in a tactical reshuffle that offered Leon Clarke support up front and allowed Dodoo to shift to the wing after starting the match in an attacking midfield position.

The gamble nearly paid dividends nine minutes after half-time when Mayor's cross-shot teased the goalkeeper into rushing off his line before curling on to the roof of the net.

Bury were much improved in the second period, controlling possession and pressing higher up the pitch.

But the hosts came close to increasing their lead when Aiden O'Brien missed the target by inches after prodding Gregory's cross goalwards.

Bachmann was called into action again in the 68th minute to halt Gregory's progress into the penalty area, before substitute Pugh stung the palms of Archer with a half-volley from the edge of the area.

The visitors came agonisingly close to equalising when Mayor drifted in a wonderful cross from the left which was begging to be flicked in but Leon Clarke and Rose both failed to make contact.

The Gigg Lane outfit rallied in the final 10 minutes but lacked that killer finish as Peter Clarke sent an opportunistic volley from the edge of the area over the bar.

As the clock ticked towards the 90-minute mark Bachmann was called into action one final time, diving to his right to keep out Steve Morison's stinging drive.

Millwall: Archer, Cummings, Webster, Beaver, Ferguson (Chesmain 83), Onyedinma (Morison 61), Saville, Williams, Upson (Thompson 81), Gregory, O'Brien.

Not used: Forde, Martin, Nelson, Pavey.

Bury: Bachmann, Riley (Pope 66), Cameron, P. Clarke, Hussey, Dodoo (Pugh 69), Soares, Etuhu, Jones (Rose 37), Mayor, L. Clarke.

Not used: Ruddy, Nardiello, Eagles, Brown.

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

Attendance: 8,311.