RYAN Lowe has told rival managers to forget about trying to rough up his Bury side during the League Two run-in.

Stevenage boss Dino Maamria attended Bury’s match at Cheltenham last Tuesday and felt they struggled with the home side’s physicality as they settled for a 1-1 draw.

Stevenage then hosted the Shakers on Saturday and Nicky Maynard scored a last-gasp winner to keep Bury’s promotion bid on track.

“In his programme notes, their manager said we found it tough against Cheltenham being physical. Well, I disagree,” said Lowe. “We weren’t at our best but, physically, we matched Stevenage and got about them.

“For the goal, Adam Thompson showed a physical presence by knocking it back down and Nicky Maynard showed a physical presence to get his neck muscles working and put the ball into the bottom corner.

“I’m a bit disappointed by those comments. Yes, Stevenage are physical and they do try to affect games the way they do, but we withstood that.

“We were trying to do the right things and they got bodies behind the ball. We got into some good positions when we played football.

“But it was about a scrap and I think we came out on top in the end.”

Bury could face similar tactics on Saturday at home to lowly Cambridge, but the Shakers remain second in the table and Lowe feels they can grind out the results they need to clinch promotion.

“It’s the sign of a good team,” added the Bury boss.

“I’ve always said whether you’re winning ugly, winning by playing good football, or scoring two or three goals, it doesn’t matter.

“Those 1-0 wins, ugly wins, are just as important.

“To go to Stevenage and claim one point, let alone three points, is a big achievement because of the way they play and how effective they are, in their own way.”

“It doesn’t suit us as much, it doesn’t suit footballing teams, but it doesn’t matter, we’ve got to make sure it’s about us and get the result.”