ANDY Preece's Shakers will be looking to bounce back after last week's Oxford setback against a team who haven't won away since November.

Despite that dismal record though, Preece knows his side face a tough encounter at Gigg Lane tomorrow and he's taking nothing for granted.

"I didn't want to know that," joked the boss when he was told about Vale's away form.

"It will be a very hard game. I watched them play Stoke last week and they matched them. Stoke are one of the favourites for promotion so that shows Port Vale are a good side and they will be difficult to beat," he said.

"I seem to say that every week because there are no easy games in this division. I'm expecting a tight battle but I am confident we can bounce back after the Oxford game and win."

Bury unexpectedly crashed 1-0 at the Manor Ground, despite the fact that Oxford were bottom of the league and hadn't won a match all season.

So what went wrong?

"It wasn't complacency. We didn't play well but having said that we had three good chances to score before Oxford put their goal in," said Preece.

"The lads know that if there are too many performances like the Oxford game then they won't be in the team much longer.

"I'm looking for the same reaction that we showed after getting beat by Wrexham earlier in the season when we bounced back and went five games unbeaten."

Definitely out for Bury is full back Matt Barrass, who damaged his cartilage in training and could be sidelined for more than a month.

But Port Vale have a few injury problems of their own, which may give a start to former Manchester United youngster Michael Twiss.

One man to watch is 20-year-old midfielder Mark Bridge-Williamson, a free transfer from Premier League Derby during the summer. He has been earning rave reviews since joing Vale, scoring three times.