Beckford boost for cup tie test from Cats

Beckford added on buryfc.co.uk: “The partnership with Nicky Ajose is working. It’s one of those things that, given time, will become lethal.

“It’s the first game and I don’t think you can read too much into anyone’s performance, especially in the first half.

“I thought we were all performing under par, no more than 65 to 70% tops. Wepickeditupin t h e second half, but we had to grind it out. I’m certain that the next game andthegames after that will be a lot better, the intensity will be higher and we will be much closer to where we should be.”

On his own display, Beckford (pictured) added: “It’s good to get off the mark with the goal, but I should have been off the mark early in the game but their keeper made a great save from the penalty.

“Sometimes these things happen. It’s one of those things that you don’t let it affect you.

“I just have to get on with it – it’s part and parcel of football.

“I’ll still be on penalties next time. I didn’t miss it, it was a great save – that’s a big difference.

“Chris Maguire also said the keeper got a hand to his penalty. The goalkeeper made two fantastic penalty saves in one game.

“It’s happened and, fair play to him, he did really well and took the gamble and it paid off – twice.

“It’s one of those things. It won’t get us down, we won’t worry about it.

“We will just get on with the job in hand and we ground out the result that we needed.”

Sunderland make their second visit to Gigg Lane in successive months tomorrow, having edged a 3-2 victory there in the opening pre-season game on July 7, rallying from two goals down to win.

The sides have met twice before in the League Cup. Bury beat Sunderland 2-0 in 2006-07, while the Black Cats won both legs 2-1 in 1997-98.