Next Up: Bury v Exeter City

With City’s homesickness having returned during January, the new month kicks off with a visit to a ground that doesn’t hold particularly happy tidings. City’s treatment table is getting slightly lighter with Clinton Morrison having returned to the bench last weekend against Tranmere, but it may still be too early for the likes of Scot Bennett and Ryan Harley to return. City’s deadline day signing, Tom McCready, is not expected to feature straight away, but Jamie McAllister is itching for his City debut, while Christy Pym returned to the side after a couple of months warming the bench and will expect to continue.

Installed by most as pre-season favourites, Bury started the season revelling in their favourites status, but a poor run in the latter stages of 2014 saw them fall away quite dramatically. Things have improved somewhat in terms of results if not necessarily in terms of performances, meaning the Shakers go into Saturday’s match three points ahead of City in the final playoff place. David Flitcroft has been busy in the transfer market both pre-season and in January, trying to find the winning formula. One player who has come in is goalkeeper Nick Pope, who played a leading role in York’s transformation last season from relegation contenders to making the playoffs, while City will as always look to keep out former favourite Daniel Nardiello, who is Bury’s top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions this season.

City have been regular visitors to Gigg Lane in recent seasons, even when not in the same division thanks to the FA Cup, but it’s fair to say it’s not the Grecians’ favourite ground, their only victory since the 1930s coming in a somewhat fortuitous 1-0 scoreline in November 2008. Last season saw City fall to a 2-0 defeat in a match which saw Danny Coles pick up what would be City’s only red card of the season. Hussey and Soares bagged the goals. The reverse fixture this season saw table topping Bury fall to a 2-1 defeat – Grimes put City ahead with one of his specials, Soares equalised but Jimmy Keohane popped up with a late winner. Overall Bury have a comfortable Football League head to head lead with 15 wins to City’s 8 (8 draws).

Match Officials: http://www.exeweb.com/2015/02/03/match-officials-bury-v-exeter-city/

Ground Guide: http://www.exeweb.com/2012/10/22/the-things-you-need-to-know-gigg-lane/

Last season highlights

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