NEW manager Chris Lucketti feels a solid defence will be the foundation of Bury's bid for League One safety.

He was named Lee Clark's permanent successor the day after the Shakers secured a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over leaders Shrewsbury in midweek.

That proved to be caretaker manager Ryan Lowe's parting gift following a six-game spell in charge, but former Bury defender Lucketti kicked off his reign with another shut-out at Northampton.

With both sides in the bottom four, it was an even, hard-fought game, with the Shakers going closest to breaking the deadlock 10 minutes from time as home keeper Matt Ingram scrambled Michael Smith's header clear.

But a goalless draw was enough to edge Bury off the bottom of the table – a point putting them above Plymouth on goal difference.

Lucketti said: “We were unfortunate not to get the three points but I think a draw was a fair result.

“They had a few chances but their keeper got man of the match and that's testament to how we played second half.

“That's a second straight clean sheet for us and that has to be the basis where we start from.

“You have to start keeping clean sheets and build from that because we know we've got goals in the team.”

The new boss largely stuck with the side that upset Shrewsbury, with the injured Harry Bunn the only player to make way, to be replaced by midfielder Callum Reilly.

Northampton started brightly, with Matt Crooks' shot testing Bury keeper Leo Fasan, but the visitors quickly found their stride as Smith fired over from Mihai Dobre's through-ball and Ingram fumbled a Dobre shot behind.

Fasan denied Marc Richards from Brendan Moloney's inswinging cross before the Cobblers began to get on top after the half-hour mark, with Crooks blazing over.

Matt Grimes' 30-yard free kick was then tipped over by Fasan, with ex-Bury defender Leon Barnett heading wide from the corner.

Crooks beat right-back Phil Edwards after the interval and his low cross was cleared as far as Grimes, whose goalbound effort was blocked by Eoghan O'Connell.

But the Shakers missed the best chance yet on 52 minutes. Jay O'Shea's flick played in Rohan Ince and although his shot was tipped over, the Bury midfielder should have done better.

The game began to open up as Ingram denied Ince again while the hosts went close as Chris Long fired just wide from 25 yards.

An unmarked Crooks sidefooted wide and Dobre fired over from a tight angle before Bury looked to have been gifted a late winner.

Northampton defender Ash Taylor misjudged a header back to Ingram and although Smith headed over the stranded keeper, he scrambled back to claw it off the line.

Although Bury are hopeful of climbing to safety now the new boss is in place, the hosts were booed off having slipped to third-bottom and gone over 400 minutes without scoring.

Match ratings

Bury (4-4-1-1): Fasan 8; Edwards 7, Cameron 8, O'Connell 8, Leigh 7; Dobre 8 (Tutte 5, 90), Laurent 7, Ince 8, Reilly 7; O'Shea 7 (Williams 6, 77); Smith 7. Not used: Ajose, Aldred, Humphrey, Maguire, Maloney.

Northampton (4-4-2): Ingram; Moloney, Barnett, Taylor, Buchanan; McWilliams (Bowditch 68), Poole, Grimes, Crooks; Long (Waters 84), Richards. Not used: Foley, McGivern, McGugan, Smith, Cornell.

Referee: Carl Boyeson (East Yorkshire).

Attendance: 4,870 (230 away).