Cambridge 3 Bury 1 by Steve Canavan

IF the Bury players went back to school chances are they would fail their exams.

Manager Andy Preece spent the last nine days giving lessons to his team about how to deal with this big, strong and physical Cambridge side.

But as soon as the match began, it became clear that a few had not been paying attention to the teacher.

Bury never got to grips with the home team, conceded three sloppy goals and ended up fortunate to escape a hammering. "We've worked all week on our game plan. We've drummed it into players heads and they knew exactly what we wanted them to do," explained Preece.

"I feel a little let down by a few players today because they didn't take our instructions on board. If they had I have no doubt we would have got a result.

"They were well aware of the jobs they had to do today but I'm afraid some just didn't do it."

Cambridge should have been one up on 10 minutes but after George Syros had clumsily fouled giant dangerman Armand One in the area, Paddy Kenny blocked Paul Wanless' spot kick.

Seven minutes later Wanless partly atoned, crossing to One who expertly lashed a half volley into the roof of the net.

Bury fought back well, the tirleless Jon Newby crossing for Harpal Singh to prod home for his first goal for the club, though now his loan period has been extended he has the chance to grab a few more.

And despite the awful Sven's Song blaring out over the loudspeakers at half time, the visiting supporters must have been cheerful at the break knowing their team looked well capable of taking the points.

How wrong they were.

Soon after the restart Tom Youngs stole in at the back post to head home Wanless' cross and with 20 minutes remaining substitute Alex Revell was left completely unmarked to convert Dave Kitson's centre.

While it's true that the outcome might have been different had former Sunderland keeper Lionel Perez not pulled off a fabulous save from Harpal Singh's point blank header with the score 2-1, Cambridge had enough chances to put Bury out of sight.

Wanless, Youngs, Revell and Daniel Chillingworth all missed good opportunities, though Martyn Forrest almost grabbed a consolation in injury time, denied by another wonderful Perez stop.

It left Harpal Singh to state the obvious. "We are struggling at the minute, making silly mistakes and getting punished everytime," he said. Match Facts BURY: Kenny 7, Unsworth 6, Redmond 6, Swailes 7, Syros 6, ARMSTRONG 8, Jarrett 6, Reid 6, Singh 7, Newby 7, Lawson 6. Subs: Forrest (for Unsworth 77), Nelson (for Syros 77), Murphy, Clegg, O'Shaughnessy.

BURY BOOKINGS: Reid (16 foul), Unsworth (64 foul), Redmond (89 foul). REF: Peter Jones (Loughbrough) 5

ATT: 3,252 (145 Bury)