NEIL Warnock has warned his First Division relegation rivals to expect a fight to the finish, after scrapping for a point at Bristol City last night. Bury were 10 minutes away from their first win on their travels this season, when a home goal denied them.

But boss Warnock refused to be downhearted and is predicting a close battle to survive.

He said: "We are everyone's favourites to go down, but we are not going to give up without a fight.

"I think Bristol City expected to win this one, but we surprised them. We were well organised and broke well from the back. "Unfortunately we let them off the hook, but I can't fault my players for the way they battled all game."

City, whose only away win of the season has been at Gigg Lane, were booed off the field after a stale first half, in which they found themselves behind to a 17th minute strike from Laurent D'Jaffo.

The Frenchman had already had the ball in the back of the net after six minutes but his effort was ruled out for hand ball. But there was no stopping him when Paul Hall slipped him a pass 15 yards out, to fire a rocket shot beyond keeper Steve Phillips. It was reward for the visitors bold start which was in marked contrast to their opponents nervous approach.

Bury keeper Dean Kiely hardly had a save worthy of the name in the first half, but he saved his side from their 17th defeat of the season with a series of superb stops, Warnock later described as 'world class'.

The Republic of Ireland International sprang low to his left to keep out Ade Akinbiyi's shot with one hand before diving full stretch to deny Jim Brennan. But there was nothing he could do when Danish sub Soren Andersen grabbed City's lifeline.

Kiely 7, West 7, Lucketti 7, Redmond 7, Swailes 6, Serrant 6, Daws 6, Billy 6, Littlejohn 6, Hall 6, D'Jaffo 7. Subs: Jemson (D'Jaffo 84), Preece (Littlejohn 89), not used John Foster.

Attendance: 11,606.

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