TEN-MAN Bury failed to ease their relegation fears after Glenn Murray handed Rochdale the derby honours at Gigg Lane.

The former Stockport hitman's 74th-minute winner leaves the Shakers tottering just six points above the drop zone.

And the Gigg Lane club's miserable afternoon was complete when Darren Kempson was handed his marching orders with five minutes remaining for two bookings inside quick succession.

The on-loan Crewe defender was shown a yellow card for a foul on former Bury player Danny Reet - and was sent off seconds later for pushing Murray to the floor.

Chris Casper's side looked to have pulled clear of danger with two wins in four days following a run of 17 games without victory.

But defeat against neighbours Rochdale means they are set for a nervy final five games.

"The little run we just put together has now come to a halt but we need to dust ourselves down very quickly and go again," said Casper, whose side travel to Bristol Rovers today.

Andy Bishop wasted the home side's best chance when he headed against the crossbar in the first half, while Jason Kennedy should have levelled matters in injury time but the on-loan Middlesbrough midfielder fired wide at the death.

An equaliser would have been no more than the Shakers deserved, though Murray also hit a post late on for Dale.

"We deserved something out of the game," said Casper. "They were probably the better team first half but second half we had a couple cleared off the line and Bish has hit the bar, but unfortunately we switched off and they punished us."

Bury might have had a penalty on 14 minutes when Simon Ramsden handled the ball in the area, but referee Colin Webster waved away the appeals.

Four minutes later, Bishop should have done opened the scoring but could only direct Glynn Hurst's pin-point cross against the woodwork.

In a half of few chances, former Manchester United trainee Ben Muirhead forced a smart save from Andy Warrington at his near post.

Bury continued to look the more likely to break the deadlock in the second half and Bishop forced a save from Matthew Gilks at the foot of his post.

Gilks was beaten on the hour mark but, thankfully for the Rochdale shot-stopper, substitute Mark Jackson produced a superb goal-line clearance from Dave Challinor's header.

Bishop again went close on 70 minutes but his effort was charged down by Jackson, while Shakers sub Marc Pugh tried his luck from distance to no avail.

But disaster struck for Bury four minutes later when Murray pounced after Warrington could only parry Alan Goodall's strike.

The home side's hopes of a fightback were dealt a blow when Kempson was sent off following a clash with Reet - a decision which angered the Shakers manager.

"To be sent off so cheaply is ridiculous," fumed Casper, whose mood will hardly have been helped by the knowledge Stan Ternent, linked with a return to Gigg Lane last week, was watching from the stands. "For him to go down like that is very disappointing."

Murray then saw his shot cannon off the foot of the post before Kennedy missed a wonderful chance to equalise in stoppage time when he blasted wide from 12 yards.

Bury: Warrington 6, Scott 6, Challinor 7, Woodthorpe 6, Bishop 7, Baker 6, Buchanan 7, J.Kennedy 6, Kempson 7, Mocquet 5 (Pugh 63, 7), Hurst 6.

Subs not used: T.Kennedy, Fitzgerald, Youngs, Stephens.

Referee: Colin Webster (Tyne and Wear).

Att: 5,075 Bury 0 Rochdale 1