Bury FC: More of same at Mariners?

After last week's home win over Yeovil and the stirring 2-2 draw at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night, the trip to newly-relegated Grimsby Town will be another yardstick for manager Graham Barrow.

The strength of Barrow's first team squad gets an early test against Russell Slade's newly-assembled Mariners side.

The Shakers will be without two of their first choice central defenders, with Colin Woodthorpe facing a one match ban after his sending off at Bristol and Danny Swailes still missing with a thigh injury.

The boss's options are further hampered by Jon Cartledge's groin strain, although the young defender was back in training this week.

Another solution could be to bring in the versatile Lee Duxbury, both he and midfielder Terry Dunfield played in a midweek reserve team friendly at Bacup Boro to give them some match practice.

"We'll have to see whether Jon has trained enough to be considered," he said.

"He didn't come back for pre-season in as good a shape as the other young lads like Simon Whaley, Tom Kennedy and Dave Nugent and it has cost him.

"Danny Swailes' injury should have been a good opportunity to get in the side but he picked up a strain himself because he didn't come back in the right condition.

"Players learn they have to be fit for the pre-season and not use the pre-season to get fit, there's a big difference."

Striker Jon Newby limped off with a knee injury at Bristol but the news on him isn't as bad as it might be and he too was back training yesterday.

Chris Porter has a slight ankle problem but the biggest worry up front is with Graeme Jones, who picked up a calf strain in midweek and is rated 50-50.

Grimsby picked up their first point of the season on Tuesday night in a 1-1 home draw in a Lincolnshire derby with Boston United.

They kicked-off with a 1-0 defeat at Darlington last Saturday and will be desperately keen to get a first win under their belts tomorrow.

"We've had reports that in both matches Grimsby have played so far they have improved as the game has gone on," added Barrow.

"They picked up some useful players from up and down the league and when they gel they could be a decent side.

"The challenge for us is to take on board what we've been doing and keep on playing that way."

Although the Bury boss has been well pleased with the return from the first two matches of the new campaign, he still believes there are things to work on with his squad if they are to make a big impact.

"You can tell early on in the season if a team has something going for it. I think we have and our players should realise that," he said.

"I had a go at one or two of them following the game on Tuesday night as I was disappointed at not winning after the way we started.

"That may seem a bit hard but it's only because I know what they are capable of.

"My biggest gripe with the team is that their disappointment at conceding a goal lasts too long.

"It was a good job Yeovil scored close to half-time on Saturday because I could see it happening then and we've got to be bigger than that.

"Conceding a goal is not the biggest crime in the world. As we saw in that game, if you only condede one you are still in with a shout.

"The players can't afford to let it affect them and the sooner they get rid of that habit the better.

"But the good thing is we are creating chances and scoring goals, it may be only two games into the season but we are playing well.

"You have your moans and groans but deep down we have no complaints because of the attitude of the lads in their day-to-day work and the way they've played so far.

"You always worry about your pre-season schedule but the first two games would demonstrate we got things right there."

The Shakers have brought in former Notts County youth team keeper Greg Smith on non-contract basis as an understudy to Glyn Garner.

The 22-year-old spent three years with the Magpies before being released at the end of last season.

He will take the squad number 22.