Bury 0 Dagenham & Redbridge 0
9:56am Sunday 7th March 2010 in Bury FC By Marc Higginson
ALAN Knill hit out at a section of the Shakers support after they rounded on individuals in his side's third consecutive goalless draw.
The Bury manager was furious with the terrace grumblers as they targeted some of the younger elements of his squad.
It was a hard-earned point for the home side, who could have secured all three points if a perfectly legitimate Ryan Lowe goal had been allowed to stand, but Knill was more concerned with the negative elements of the Gigg Lane crowd.
“Some of the abuse that Michael Jones got in that game is disgusting,” fumed Knill. “I heard somebody shout for me to pull him off and I think 'hold on a minute, is nobody allowed to have a bad game?'.
“What Jones, and all the other young players, have done for this football club in the last two years is unbelievable. Unfortunately we have set some high standards and when you don't reach them every week, people with short memories are going to let you know.
“We are fourth in the league and getting booed, it's unbelievable.
“The way to help is not to boo and barrack – boo if we are fourth from bottom, not fourth from top.”
The Shakers, who have not scored from open play in more than 450 minutes, flew out of the traps and Ryan Cresswell saw an early header cleared off the line.
David Worrall nodded a Brian Barry-Murphy cross wide before the visitors served notice of their threat when Scott Doe saw a close-range effort disallowed.
The hosts were having the better of the contest, however, and should have taken the lead on the half-hour mark.
Ryan Lowe, who was a constant threat all afternoon, was sent scampering clear by Stephen Dawson's well-timed pass and the striker clinically slotted home – only to see the linesman incorrectly raise his flag.
Lowe flashed another effort wide before, moments after the restart, Paul Benson breached Bury's offside trap but shot past the post.
Stephen Dawson squandered his side's best chance of the match in the 51st minute when he took too long to pick his spot from eight yards out and allowed goalkeeper Tony Roberts to get into position for a fantastic block.
Lowe and Worrall had further opportunities saved while, at the other end, Danny Green's volley was easily dealt with by Wayne Brown as both sides were made to settle for a point.
“It was a fair result,” concluded Knill, whose side welcome bottom of the table Darlington to Gigg Lane on Tuesday evening.
“We didn't want a draw but it is a point in the right direction and on another day we could have lost the game.
“At the moment it is difficult for us to put the ball into the back of the net but nothing changes, I still have faith in the players and their ability.”
BURY: Brown 7, Buchanan 7, Futcher 8, Cresswell 8, Newey 7, Worrall 8, Dawson 8, Barry-Murphy 8, Jones 7 (Hewson 6, 81), Morrell 7 (Bishop 6, 65), Lowe 8. Subs not used: Baker, Racchi, Sodje, Belford, Elliott.
DAGENHAM: Roberts 8, McCrory 7, Doe 7, Folly 7, Arber 7, Green 8, Ogogo 7, Pack 7, Gain 7, Benson 6, Scott 6. Subs not used: Lewington, Nurse, Uddin, Thomas, Currie, Vincent, Montgomery.
Attendance: 2,886 (65 Dagenham fans)
Referee: Mr Andy Hall (West Midlands)
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