LEE Clark took solace that Bury stayed out of the relegation zone despite a 2-0 defeat to Bradford City.

Goals from Mark Marshall and Charlie Wyke earned the Bantams victory which moved them to within seven points of Bolton in the automatic promotion places.

Bury rarely tested visiting keeper Colin Doyle, registering only two shots on target. However, wins for relegation rivals Shrewsbury and Oldham, along with Gillingham’s draw against Millwall, means the Shakers dropped to 18th in the table.

The three-point cushion has now been slashed to one – but Clark took comfort that they still – just about – control their own destiny.

“It’s still in our own hands,” Clark said. “If we get back to doing our job properly then we’ll be okay.

“It’s getting extremely tight down there, we have to go again. I’m obviously disappointed. I think the last couple of games we have come off it a little bit. We are letting the opponents dictate to us a little bit.

“We have to find a solution to that, to get back playing on the front foot and taking the game to the opposition and giving their goalkeeper more problems, which we aren’t doing enough of.

“In saying that, we probably had the best chance of the game in the first half.”

Alex Jones and Wyke wasted opportunities to give the visitors an early advantage.

And Shakers striker James Vaughan blasted the best chance of the game wide when one-on-one with Doyle on the stroke of half-time.

But there would be no messing about after the break as Marshall found the bottom corner from distance.

Young midfielder Callum Styles took aim from the edge of the box but he would not to be so lucky – Doyle keeping the 17-year-old at bay.

Bury keeper Joe Murphy made a number of fine saves but he was beaten again six minutes from time when substitute Jordy Hiwula broke down the left to set up Wyke for an easy tap-in.

Although Bury had the odd opportunity they were punished by a rampant Bradford, whose surge for a play-off place is almost complete. It is the first time since taking charge Clark has suffered back-to-back defeats and he feels his side have passed up an opportunity to put daylight between themselves and the bottom four.

“Goals change games,” Clark added. “They have been ruthless and we have got to find a way together to get back to winning ways.

“We have had an opportunity in the last two games and we haven’t taken it so we have put ourselves in a precarious position.”

Young striker George Miller was handed his first start under Clark in place of Ryan Lowe. The 18-year-old linked up well with Styles as the two academy graduates continue to flourish in the first team.

However, Clark is hoping his younger players will learn from these damaging defeats which will stand them in good stead for the future.

“George is a real honest kid and there is a lot of potential there,” he said. “We felt with his work ethic and movement it would cause some problems. It wasn’t to be but not for the want of trying on George’s behalf. He is a young lad who wants to do really well. We ended up with a really young team in certain areas of the pitch. It’s a learning curve but it’s a steep learning curve. You have got to learn on the job so hopefully we’ll learn from the mistakes that have happened and we’ll go again.”

Meanwhile, wing-back Craig Jones’ return from a four-month lay-off ended in misery as he limped off with another injury. The 30-year-old lasted only half an hour before having to withdraw from action, which drew sympathy from his boss.

Clark said: “I’m gutted for the lad. He has worked extremely hard on his rehab and it’s nothing to do with the injury he came back from, it’s a completely different injury.

“It’s a calf problem and that’s the risk you take when a player has been out for so long. He has trained extremely well and I like him a lot. He would have added something different to us.

“We’re hoping it’s not serious.”

Bury (5-3-2): Murphy 7; Jones 6 (Moore 30, 5 (Lowe 71, 6)), Barnett 5, Kay 5, C. Burgess 5, Leigh 7; Caddis 5, Styles 7, Mellis 6 (S. Burgess 81, 6); Miller 5, Vaughan 5.

Unused subs: Williams, Bryan, Pennant, Pope

Bradford (4-2-3-1): Doyle; McMahon, Knight-Percival, McArdle, Meredith; Vincelot, Cullen; Clarke (Law 62); Jones (Hiwula 70), Wyke, Marshall (Dieing 75).

Unused subs: Satteemaier, Darby, Toner, Devine.

Referee: Trevor Kettle (East Midlands).