BEATEN on Saturday for the fourth game in succession, Bury dropped to third position from the foot of the Second Division table.

Again they were unfortunate in the 3-2 defeat at Oakwell, for if the football of both the Shakers and Barnsley was not of a high standard, the wooden spoonists were a moderate lot.

Bury could and should have won this match in the first half hour when their persistent aggression had the Yorkshiremen on the run. Many favourable positions were created against a defence which allowed itself to be drawn wide apart, but once again there was not the required power in attack.

Helped by a doubtful penalty and a third goal which was a gift, Barnsley struggled through to their third win of the season, but on this showing they are in for a tough fight to reach safety, which makes it even more disturbing that Bury were unable to bring back at least one point.

From the Bury Times of Friday November 11, 1977

STEVE Johnson, a raw amateur with Altrincham barely a year ago, is plunged into Bury's attack at Bradford City tomorrow in a gamble by manager Bob Smith aimed at ending a dismal sequence of league results.

The inclusion of 20-year-old Johnson is part of a major reshuffle forced on the Shakers' boss after seven consecutive Third Division games without a win.