Shakers will not lie down despite league struggles
BOTTOM-OF-THE-TABLE BURY face a difficult task today when they welcome League One promotion hopefuls WIGAN ATHLETIC to Gigg Lane.
The Shakers are 10 points from safety with just nine games remaining, while Wigan are in third place, two points off the top spot with two games in hand.
Bury head into the match on the back of two straight defeats, and boss Ryan Lowe is under no illusions about how difficult it will be.
“Wigan have done unbelievably well this season. Paul Cook has got them playing the right way and they have good togetherness, but we won’t lie down for anyone,” he said.
“We have a task to try and get points on the board so it’s going to be an interesting game. We know it’s not going to be easy but if we’re at our utmost best then we can do it.
“We’ve watched Wigan plenty of times this season and I know what Paul Cook’s teams are about. It will be a tough game but so are the next eight after this, so we know what we need to do.”
Wigan’s last game saw them pick up an impressive 3-0 win at Walsall on Wednesday, and manager Paul Cook wants to build on that performance.
“You always feel if you work hard and you stick at it then your quality will come through – that’s how football is – and without that work ethic and desire, quality is not enough,” he said.
“These lads keep going and going and going, these games are ticking off, we’re down to 11 games now and we’ll soon be down to single figures. We are on 74 points, that’s a great amount of points to have at this stage, but there is so much work still to be done.”
ROCHDALE will try to keep up their hopes of avoiding relegation when they have a tough trip to play-off contenders Scunthorpe United. Keith Hill’s side are second from bottom, six points from safety, while Scunthorpe are in fifth place but in a poor run of form.
Hill has revealed Andy Cannon will be missing for the game due to a fractured cheekbone.
“Andy is going to see a specialist next week. There’s still a lot of bruising in and around the area, so they can’t make any judgement calls on what’s necessary with regards to whether he’ll need an operation or if he can, in a couple of weeks, wear a mask,” he said.
“If he does need an operation then he’ll be out for the season, but if we can protect it with a mask, then it’s essential that he proves his fitness.”
BURY BOSS ADMITS HIS SIDE FACE TOUGH TASK AGAINST HIGH-FLYING WIGAN