Bury 3 Man City 4 - SHAKERS boss Andy Preece says the 8,000-plus crowd who turned out to see Kevin Keegan's charges at Gigg Lane were a massive boost to the struggling club.

City eventually held off a brave Bury effort with new signing Nicolas Anelka twice on the scoresheet, but not before the home side had given them a mighty scare through goals from Danny Swailes, Lee Connell and Preece himself.

But the result was always going to have little significance in comparison to the attendance figure.

Preece had often claimed a big pay day was essential to stand any chance of bringing a fresh face or two to his woefully weak playing squad for the coming season.

And, speaking after the game, he said he was delighted with the turn out.

"The income from last night is going to help us no end," he said.

"It was a fantastic crowd and it's great credit to Man City for coming here and giving us a game. It's great that we generated so much cash because we really need it.

"City have some quality players and have some great passing movement but it doesn't matter. We were never at the races, to be honest. I gave them a rollocking at half-time.

"They changed their side at half-time but they still had half a dozen internationals out there and we seemed to respond to that."