RICHIE Barker has hailed the attitude of striker Andy Bishop who ended his goal drought in the 2-0 home win against Exeter which took the Shakers’ points haul to seven from nine.

Bishop headed his first league goal of the campaign to open the scoring in Saturday’s Gigg Lane victory and, according to manager Barker, was rewarded for the hard work he has put in on the training ground.

Barker is now hoping the 28-year-old hitman can be as effective as he was against Exeter when the Shakers take the train to play League One strugglers Leyton Orient on Saturday.

“Bish deserved his goal,” said Barker. “What stood out was not only his work rate, but everything he did was excellent.

“He held the ball up really well and his touch was superb as well as being brave mentally and physically doing what is a very difficult job.

“Andy has really bought into what we are doing and deserves whatever rewards come his way.”

Bury are now unbeaten in their last three matches, having arrested a run of seven straight defeats with a gutsy home draw to high-flyers MK Dons on September 24.

Apart from the pleasing statistic of scoring five goals in their last three games, Barker is equally delighted with the two clean sheets kept by 23-year-old goalkeeper Trevor Carson, who is on loan from Sunderland.

“He’s really settling in,” the manager said.

“It’s a sign of really good goalkeeper that they can have nothing to do for 15 or 20 minutes, as was the case against Exeter, and when they are called on to make important saves they pull them off.

“It’s easy to concentrate when you are having shots fired at you from all over the place, but, when you’ve been doing nothing for a long time, to make them when you’re called into action takes some doing.”

Carson is one of six loan players Barker believes are starting gel with a team spirit similar to the one which helped get the Shakers promoted at the end of last season starting to prevail.

He has already secured an extension to Leicester midfielder Shane Byrne’s loan and is aiming to follow suit with defender Ashley Eastham (Blackpool), striker David Amoo (Liverpool), and midfielder Giles Coke (Liverpool).

“It’s going to be hectic in a couple of weeks when the loans run out,” Barker added.

“We’ll certainly be looking at taking them for longer, and those plans are in place.

“It’s a very positive thing for the club that the loan players are telling us they want to stay because they are enjoying their football here.

“Word gets round the Football League that it is worth coming here, and that can only be a good thing for us.”