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Knill out to maintain flying start

Ben Collins
24/ 8/2008

BURY boss Alan Knill is determined to silence the cynics after the Shakers maintained their 100 per cent league start against Morecambe.

Despite winning their first three games for the first time in 51 years, Bury are still not seen as genuine contenders after their recent struggles in League Two.

Knill believes the club has turned a corner, though, and is confident his side has the staying power to remain in the promotion picture.

"Even though it's only three games, we're well up the league and we're delighted," he said.

"But people are now just waiting for us to fall and they'll be saying, 'sooner or later the wheels are going to come off Bury. They can't sustain that'.

"We're there to be shot down now but we've got a strong dressing room that wants to prove people wrong and wants to do well.

"To be fair, that is the image of the club and it's not really a positive image. The last three years it's been a relegation fight and we're trying to turn that around.

"If I'm honest, I'm happy with that. I want us to be quietly good and not scream and shout about how well we're doing, we'll just get on with the job.

"It's a great start but I would like our best finish for 51 years!"

Rene Howe gave Morecambe a 14th-minute lead at Gigg Lane but the Shakers struck back five minutes later through skipper Paul Scott.

A David Artell own goal then put Bury ahead on the half-hour mark and that proved enough to clinch victory.

"We didn't start particularly well, we gave them a soft goal, but there was plenty of time left for us to score," said Knill. "You've just got to be confident in what you've got as a team, and it was an excellent response to be leading 2-1 at half-time.

"The players showed great resolve to come back and I'm delighted to have seen out the game."

Bury: Brown 7; Scott 6, Futcher 7, Sodje 7, Buchanan 6; Bennett 7 (Racchi 65, 7), Dawson 7, Barry-Murphy 7, Jones 7; Bishop 7, Morrell 6 (Hurst 75, 6). Subs: Cresswell, Baker, Belford.

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