It's 'criminal' raps angry Barrow (From The Bolton News)

It's 'criminal' raps angry Barrow

CHELTENHAM TOWN 2, SHAKERS 1: GRAHAM BARROW described Bury's defeat at Cheltenham Town on Saturday as "criminal" and warned his League Two outfit that they need to get themselves sorted out - and quickly!

It may be just the first game of the season, but already Barrow wants to get the first points on the board by next Saturday.

Bury showed good glimpses at times against the Robins but they gave away far too many free kicks - 18 in the first-half alone - and left the door open at the back three times.

Also, other than the one goal that they scored after outstanding Brian Barry-Murphy laid back a 10 yard chance inside the home penalty area for midfield partner Dwayne Mattis to strike home, they were far too wayward in front of the posts.

Barrow is now set to up the ante in attack with Tom Youngs, on the bench last Saturday, and Stuart Barlow contenders for the front positions against Leyton Orient on Tuesday.

Barrow said: "When you lose a game, it always puts pressure on you. The sooner you get the three points on the board, the better. It's that early season feeling. It was great last year because we won the first game.

"It's a sickening blow but you have to find something within yourself now to get something from the two home games we've got.

"We've just got to get our act together. We've seen in the last week that we can play football and score goals. I never like losing but I never like losing in the way we did today. I think it's quite criminal from a professional point of view."

The manager was not exactly pleased that skipper Dave Challinor was day dreaming when a ball pumped forward gave Cheltenham striker Kayode Odejayi time and space to thump home a 20 yard drive past despairing Bury keeper Neil Edwards.

Barrow added: "I think that first goal was an absolute joke. The game is tough enough without giving people gifts."

And he thought the winning goal, which saw Cheltenham new boy Craig Armstrong head home from close to the six-yard box, could have been stopped.

Barrow said: "The second goal could have been prevented as the lad got across John Hardiker to get his header in. If you deal with that, then we go away with something.

"People have the attitude, and I've spoken to them about it. They try to show everyone they are a good player when what you want is solid consistency. Nobody on the ground thought that Dave was going to leave that ball. It was nowhere near the goalkeeper's ball but that is something we can put right."

Bury (4-4-2): Edwards 7; Kennedy 7, Fitzgerald 7, Challinor (capt) 6, Scott 7; Mattis 7, Flitcroft 7, Hardiker 6, Barry-Murphy 8; Smart 6, Whaley 6.

Subs used: Sedgemore (Hardiker 81mins).

Subs not used: Woodthorpe, Youngs, Barlow, Dootson