Bury keep watch on local rivals

PETER CLARKE

BURY'S coaches are leaving no stone unturned ahead of a derby with Athletic that pits ex-colleagues against each other.

David Flitcroft watched the Shakers forced a 0-0 draw at Coventry this week in which the hosts didn't manage to muster a single shot on target at the Ricoh Arena.

That was a fourth point gained in a campaign that has brought an impressive opening-day 2-0 win over relegated Charlton and a 2-1 defeat at Gillingham.

Athletic skipper Peter Clarke heads back to the club he captained last year. His replacement as a natural leader at the back is Antony Kay ­- snapped from MK Dons and an ex-colleague of Clarke's at Huddersfield Town.

Backup goalkeeper Paul Rachubka and midfield man Jacob Mellis are two more with knowledge of the inner workings at SportsDirect.com Park, while Flitcroft and his assistant Ben Futcher have been diligent in their scouting duties.

"We will be ready for a local derby where we have to play with the same intensity," said Flitcroft after the Coventry draw, on the same ground he saw his side lose 6-0 last term.

WILLINGNESS

"The lads certainly can do that as we know from the four games we have played so far.

"There is a willingness to back each other up, which has been really evident. I have seen Oldham twice in pre-season and Ben Futcher has seen them three times now.

"We have some good intelligence on them and we will design a game plan to try and negate their strengths and work on where we feel there is a weakness. Every game is a different project and Saturday is no different.

"You need controlled aggression in any game, but in derbies you need a heightened sense of staying on task and focused."

Kelvin Etuhu and Tom Pope both went close to creating an even better result for Bury on Tuesday night, but found home goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook in fine form.