CHRIS Brass plans to address the clubs poor disciplinary record after 10-man Shakers surrendered a two-goal lead on Saturday in their 3-2 defeat at home to Millwall.

Bury weathered a first-half storm and took the lead on the hour when James Vaughan headed home via the underside of the crossbar.

The forward netted his second to double the lead six minutes later, clinically finishing after superb work from 19-year-old academy graduate Scott Burgess.

The Shakers looked set to end a club-record losing streak of nine games until Niall Maher gave away his fourth penalty of the season, handling Fred Onyedinma’s goal-bound effort on the line.

Maher moment of madness turned the game on its head.

Williams converted from the spot and the Lions went on to capitalise on their man advantage.

Calum Butcher equalised four minutes from time before Aiden O’Brien slotted in the winner three minutes into added time.

Maher’s dismissal was the Shakers' third red card in the space of a week after both Greg Leigh and Jacob Mellis saw red at Sheffield United, leaving frustrated caretaker boss Brass with a threadbare squad.

“We need to address this level of discipline and there was honesty from me (with the players in the dressing room) straight after the game,” Brass said.

“Throughout the season we have lost too many men, and that's been frustrating.

“We started off a little bit nervy, which you can understand, but we were organised and got to half time still 0-0, which is job done.

"We then got ourselves into an incredible position at 2-0 after coming out in the second half a lot more positive – we let off the shackles a little bit.

“You have more than done your job when it’s 2-0, and it’s imperative that you then keep your discipline and keep 11 players on the field.

“(The penalty) was a game-changing moment, it's as simple as that.

"Maybe (the handball) is instinct, maybe it’s not, but you have just got to take it.

“You have got to quickly learn from it. It’s part of being a professional – understanding how you see games out, how you slow games down – it’s gamesmanship.”

Bury already had a depleted squad before Saturday's game and Brass was relying on sick and injured players to fill in for those with suspensions and long-term problems.

Right-back Craig Jones was rushed back following a groin problem and started the game but had to be withdrawn at half time, while midfielder Andrew Tutte was introduced at the break despite suffering only just recovering from a sickness bug.

“Jonah had a tight groin,” Brass said. “Tutte was off sick the day before but fair play he came forward and said he’ll make the bench.

“I asked him to step forward at half time and he did, that’s the type of desire we need.”

Bury tried to appeal the red card Mellis picked up for a strong tackle in the 1-0 defeat at Bramall Lane, but they were unsuccessful.

As a result, the influential midfielder, who had a previous red card this season in Bury's defeat at Rochdale, was slapped with a four-game ban that means he will not be available until the Boxing Day clash with Fleetwood Town.

Brass believes absentees are having an adverse effect on the group and he cannot wait to start fielding players in their correct positions again.

He said: “I didn’t think Jacob's tackle was terrible, I didn’t think it was a red card, but he has gone in with force and hasn’t touched the ball.

“With all the suspensions and injuries we are putting too many square pegs in round holes.

"It has an adverse effect all the way through the group, that’s part and parcel of why results are not going our way as well.

“I do prefer players to be in their correct positions because then you are going to get the best out of them.

"This two-week period with a game (after Bury failed to qualify for the second round of the FA Cup this weekend) will allow players to come back.

“We won't be having any time off. It’s not a rest period, it will be an unbelievable period of work, both on and off the park.”

Match ratings

Bury (4-4-2): Williams 5; Jones 6 (Bedeau 45 6), Kay 6, Soares 5, Maher 3; Burgess 7, Danns 4 (Tutte 45 6), Etuhu 5, Mayor 7; Pope 6, Vaughan 8. Subs not used: Rachubka, Styles, Dudley, Hope, G Miller.

Millwall (4-4-2): Archer; Romeo, Craig, Webster, Martin (Pavey 83); Worrall (O’Brien 62), Williams, Abdou (Butcher 74), Ferguson; Smith, Onyedinma. Subs not used: Cummings, Thompson, Mbulu, King.

Referee: Chris Sarginson (Staffordshire).

Attendance: 3,028 (442 visiting).