Bristol City 2 Bury 0 by Phil Thorp

A LATE two goal blast from the Robins put paid to a sterling second half defensive display as the Shakers edged precariously closer to the Second Division relegation trapdoor.

A 25-yard cracker from City wing back Mickey Bell and a stoppage time strike from former Manchester City striker Lee Peacock knocked the stuffing out of Andy Preece's men after they looked capable of picking up a priceless point.

But it needed a half time rollocking from the Bury boss to galvanise his men.

In the first period they were woefully bad and could not have complained had they gone in for their interval cuppa four or five goals down.

It was virtually one way traffic and seemed only a matter of time before the Robins would take the lead but, riding their luck, the Shakers miraculously held on until half time.

Whatever Preece said to his men during the interval seemed to work. With Matt Barrass playing a sweeper's role allowing Nicky Hill and Unsworth to get tighter to the lively City strikers it was a completely different story in the second half.

Both Hill and Barrass did superbly well at the heart of the defence considering their lengthy lay-offs due to injury but it was Unsworth whose display shone like a beacon.

It looked to all the world as if the Shakers would be returning home with a hard earned point until five minutes from time.

Bell cut inside and hit a superb shot that found the top corner then in stoppage time, with Bury camped in the home side's half in search of a leveller, Bristol broke away and substitute Lee Matthews set up Peacock for an easy chance that he made no mistake with.

FORMGUIDE: Kenny 7, Unsworth 9, Clegg 6, Connell 6 (Barrass, 26) 8, Nelson 6 (Hill, 26) 8, Forrest 7, Clarkson 7, Borley 6, Billy 7, Lawson 7 (Nugent, 82), Newby 8. Subs not used: O'Shaughnessy and Preece. Attendance: 9,449.