ALAN Knill is hoping it will not be a case of ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’ when he takes his promotion-chasing side to Morecambe's Christie Park on Tuesday night.

The Shakers beat rivals Rochdale 2-1 on Saturday, but victory is just as important in the club’s quest to reach League One. Sammy McIlroy’s side are unbeaten in nine games, and Knill knows his men will have to be on their mettle again if they want to maintain their momentum.

“It was a real occasion against Rochdale with 7,500 in the ground, and it was a great feeling to win, but we have another game now that is just as important,” said Knill. “The players deserve the plaudits for their performance on Saturday, but they have to quickly put it behind them. The game tonight is now the most important.

“It’s in our hands now. If we look after ourselves and pick up as many points as we can, we will definitely be in there at the end of the season.”

Bury beat Rochdale without skipper Paul Scott, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing a knee operation yesterday. Stephen Dawson was given the armband in Scott’s absence, and Knill says the Irishman’s performances merited the honour.

“We all thought Dawson should have the armband,” he said. “He leads by example, and he did against Rochdale. He drives the team. He moans his head off, in the right way, and he is vocal, and we thought he deserved it.”

Wayne Brown starts after on-loan keeper Mark Tyler returned to Peterborough on Monday.