BURY remain outside the League One relegation zone despite falling to a 3-1 defeat at home to table-toppers Sheffield United.

No side in the bottom four were able to muster a victory, but while a draw for Chesterfield brought them level on points with fifth-bottom Bury, the Shakers remain above them on goal difference.

Jacob Mellis put the Gigg Lane outfit ahead with a wonderful first-half strike but Billy Sharp drew the Blades level.

Bury had to withstand heavy pressure in the latter stages and it took its toll when Kelvin Etuhu slotted into his own net and Kieran Freeman scored late on to keep the South Yorkshire outfit top of the table.

Head coach Chris Brass made four changes to the side that drew at both Fleetwood and Bradford over the festive period.

Goalkeeper Rob Lainton missed out with a thigh injury and he was replaced in the starting XI by Ben Williams.

Striking trio Hallam Hope, Tom Pope and George Miller also dropped to the bench as Jacob Mellis and James Vaughan returned, while winger Jack Mackreth was thrown in for his first start after signing from Macclesfield on New Year's Day.

The 24-year-old wide man enjoyed a lot of the ball down the right early on as he showed off his pace and trickery.

But it was the Blades who fashioned the first chance of the game when Sharp found half a yard of space and blasted wide of the near post.

Bury took the lead in the 13th minute when Mellis rifled a 25-yard shot into the top corner.

Eight minutes later the visitors drew level when a superbly taken free kick by Freeman dropped at the feet of Sharp and he blasted the ball home from a couple of yards.

United could have flipped the game on its head moments later when Jacob Bedeau gave the ball away cheaply, but Caolan Lavery was denied by Williams.

Sheffield United moved through the gears in the second half, but it was Vaughan who had the first chance after the break, lashing wide when picked out by Mackreth in the box.

The league leaders continued to ask questions and Chris Basham wasted a good opportunity, shooting wide from the edge of the box.

Tom Soares picked up his 10th yellow card of the season for a needless foul on Sharp on the halfway line, meaning he will now be suspended for the next two matches.

However, Bury were looking dangerous on the counter attack and had a huge shout for a penalty waved away when Burgess’s shot seemed to hit a defender on the arm in the box.

The hosts began to tire in the latter stages as the busy festive period began to take its toll on the youthful side.

Etuhu had a massive stroke of misfortune in the 73rd minute when Lavery’s centre ricocheted off his leg and beyond Williams to put the Blades in front.

Eight minutes from time Freeman wrapped the game up with a tap-in from Sharp’s square pass.

Vaughan was denied by the woodwork late on as his shot from an acute angle rattled back off the underside of the crossbar as Bury extended their winless run to 19 matches in all competitions.