ANDY Preece's Bury today face a side bursting with confidence under a new manager.

Mark McGhee, former Leicester and Wolves boss, has a 100 per cent record after taking over from previous management duo Keith Stevens and Alan McLeary.

They were given the boot even though Millwall were in the top half of the table and had two games in hand which - if both won - would have put them above the Shakers and into second place.

But, proving that football really has gone barmy, the duo were sacked because the chairman wanted McGhee.

"The club are desperate to get promotion and the chairman, who is very single minded, thought the two in charge couldn't deliver that, even though they were doing so well. So he got rid of them," a club source told the BEN.

McGhee could have fallen flat on his face and still may but he has started well.

His first two games have been convincing, a 4-1 win at Peterborough and a 1-0 victory at Luton.

Today will be the first time he has taken charge of the team at the New Den and it will be, adds our source, interesting to see how the fans - upset at the sackings - will respond to him.

Hopefully the distraction may prove to the Shakers advantage.

It is a big game for the club, 90 minutes which will prove how far they have really come, and a draw would be a fantastic result.

Because of that Preece is tempted to play a defensive formation and will wait until the last minute before announcing his team.

However, there are likely to be few changes from the 11 which beat Bristol Rovers last week, which means another start for impressive youngster Jason Jarrett. If Preece alters anything it's likely to be up front where Baichung Bhutia may get the nod ahead of Lutel James who, the boss said, had an off day against Bristol.

The team left Gigg Lane for the capital at 1pm yesterday and stayed in a hotel overnight to avoid a long coach journey down South on the morning of the match.

Before the squad left Preece said: "It will be a really difficult game and our biggest test so far. But we're up for it and prepared. It should be a great game."

Kick off at Millwall is 3pm, with Bury in action again on Tuesday, away to Notts County.