CHRIS Brass hailed Bury’s fantastic four after the teenage sensations helped earn a hard-fought point away to play-off chasing Bradford.

Callum Styles, aged 16, Jacob Bedeau, 17, George Miller, 18, and Scott Burgess, 19, made their second successive starts and their energy and work-rate helped see the Shakers through to a worthy draw against the Bantams, who are fifth in League One.

Midfielder Burgess netted the opener six minutes before half-time with an exquisite lob, but it was cancelled out by Nicky Law’s second-half strike.

The Shakers dug deep to earn a point that ensured Brass's side started the new year outside of the relegation zone.

“Be quiet,” Brass joked when asked about his young stars. “I want to try to keep them at the club in January.

“I really, really rate Nicky Law. I think he’s a fantastic professional and I tried to sign him on numerous occasions, but Callum (Styles) has more than held his own against him today (in the centre of midfield).

“Scotty Burgess, we played him in a bit more of an attacking role and you could really see what the boy can do.

“George Miller, Jacob (Bedeau), these players all have very bright futures ahead of them if they keep working hard.”

Bury’s squad has been struck by injuries in recent months, which forced Brass into fielding his former youth-team players.

However, the younger lads have now earned the trust of their boss and he insists they will continue to get better game by game.

But Brass is also a realist and acknowledges there may be a few hiccups along the way.

He said: “The key is that you have got to trust them and accept they will make mistakes.

"The big boys make mistakes but they learn from them.

“I could have lived with it if Jacob had have given the ball away and Bradford had gone through to make it 2-1 and we ended up losing because I know he will get better (after an experience like that) and that’s the key.

“All of these players will get better. The spirit in the dressing room is very good.”

With the transfer window opening on New Year's Day, Brass is wary that many teams will be tracking the progress of his young stars.

However, the head coach is hopeful of keeping hold of them and has been working hard to add new faces to his squad before the visit of League One leaders Sheffield United this afternoon.

Jack Mackreth was confirmed yesterday. The 24-year-old winger was signed from National League side Macclesfield for an undisclosed fee, putting pen to paper on an 18-month deal with the option for an extra year.

Brass, speaking before Mackreth's arrival was announced, said: “I’ll be looking to keep wolves away from the door, but thank God the transfer window is open now.

"It allows us to shake it up a little bit.

“We can’t quite fill the bench at the minute but that’s coming. Neil Danns is back, Jacob Mellis is back, (James) Vaughany’s right and hopefully Danny Mayor’s injury will have settled by the (Sheffield United) game.

“We have got a lot of irons in fires so fingers crossed we can have something ready for Sheffield United.”

Match ratings

Bury (4-2-3-1): Lainton 8; Soares 6, Kay 8, Bedeau 7, Leigh 7; Etuhu 8, Styles 8; G Miller 7 (Vaughan 67, 6), Burgess 8 (Mellis 69, 6), Hope 6; Pope 7.

Unused subs: Williams, Cooney, Walker, Dudley.

Bradford (4-4-2): Doyle; McMahon, Knight-Percival, Vincelot, Kilgallon; Marshall (Vuckic 82), Cullen, Devine (Dieing 73), Law; Hanson, Hiwula (McNulty 73).

Unused subs: Sattelmainer, Darby, Meredith, McArdle.

Referee: Andy Haines (Tyne & Wear).

Attendance: 18,012 (442 visiting).