IT may be the festive season but Bury caretaker manager Chris Brass has had just about enough of the early Christmas “gifts” being handed out by his defence.

The Shakers tied themselves in knots at the back in Saturday’s 4-2 defeat at Bristol Rovers – stretching the club's record to 11 straight losses in the league.

Their makeshift back line included midfielder Tom Soares alongside 16-year-old Jacob Bedeau in the centre of defence.

Bedeau was absolved of blame on what was his first league start, but Brass did not use enforced defensive changes as an excuse for the club’s failure to keep a clean sheet for a 23rd game in a row.

Academy graduate Scott Burgess scored his first goal for the club to give Bury the lead but strikes from Rory Gaffney, Matty Taylor, Ollie Clarke and Peter Hartley secured the win for Rovers.

Substitute George Miller, another one promoted from the youth ranks, pulled one back late on, but it was the manner of the goals conceded that left the temporary Bury manager frustrated after the final whistle.

“You can’t gift goals like we are doing and win games of football,” Brass said. “The bizarre thing is, I was happy with our level of performance, especially at the start.

“We got it down and played. A very, very good footballer in Jacob (Bedeau) made his first start aged 16 and he didn’t look out of place.

“I felt quite comfortable approaching half time, so to then go in 2-1 down was frustrating, to say the least.

“I can’t hide behind our makeshift back four today – they put in a lot of work (to prepare for the game) and knew what they were doing. So to let in four really soft goals is frustrating me more than anything else today, I can’t accept that.”

To make matters worse, midfielder Neil Danns was sent off two minutes from time for an apparent elbow on Ollie Clarke. It continued a run of four red cards in the last three games, prompting a stern warning from Brass.

“Trust me, I’ll deal with it,” he said. “Ill-discipline will be met with discipline.

“There are different ways you can deal with it. What normally happens is the player loses their place in the team and they don’t get back in, but we are low on available players at the moment.

“I’ll have to have a look at the red card. Their lad has done something and there has been a bit of handbags, but you can’t raise your hands. If that has happened then it’s wrong. You have got to be professional and disciplined and it will be addressed.”

A possible injury to right-back Craig Jones, which led to him being substituted 20 minutes from time, provided further cause for concern, with the defender only just returning from a long lay-off.

“Craig needs nursing to make games,” Brass added. “He is tight but he keeps getting forward.

“Craig Jones for 60 minutes, or 30 minutes, is a good acquisition. He has done tremendously well just to get on the field – that’s the type of desire we need.”

Although Bury are in the middle of a club record run of defeats and winless games, there is hope for the future.

Youth team players have been stepping up to the plate and filling the void left by injuries and suspensions to senior players.

As well as Burgess, aged 19, and Miller, 18, who notched his third goal of the season at the Memorial Stadium, a number of other youngsters are on the verges of the first team.

Ryan Cooney, a 16-year-old central midfielder from the under-18s, was named on the bench for the first time on Saturday, as was Callum Styles, who last year broke the club record as its youngest ever to make a league appearance.

Brass has been impressed with his younger performers.

He said: "I do trust them. Scott has given another fine performance, George has come off the bench again and been fantastic and Jacob was outstanding.

"They'll learn from the experience but I'm disappointed and gutted for them (that they were on the losing side). We can't carry on relying on the youngsters to see us through."

Match ratings

Bury (4-4-2): Williams 3; Jones 6 (G Miller 72, 7), Soares 5, Bedeau 6, Leigh 5; Burgess 7, Etuhu 5, Danns 5, Mayor 7; Pope 5, Vaughan 5.

Unused subs: Rachubka, Walker, Cooney, Styles, Dudley, Hope.

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Puddy; J Clarke, Lockyer, Hartley, Brown; Sinclair, O Clarke, Colkett (Leadbitter 76), Boateng (Mansell 85); Gaffney, Taylor (James 76). Unused subs: Roos, Easter, Harrison, Bodin.

Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside).