Swindon Town 1 Bury 1 JOKING Neil Warnock put a smile back on Dean West's face after the luckless defender cost Bury two priceless points with a horrendous own goal three minutes from time. West knows all about soccer's highs and lows after celebrating his return from 16 months out injured with a spectacular goal in the Shakers' last away day three weeks ago.

But the stylish right back was inconsolable after heading David Kerslake's hopeful cross into Dean Kiely's top corner - until Warnock lifted his spirits.

"He told me I'd been out of the game for 16 months and now I've scored two goals in three games," said West with a rare smile as he bravely held up his hands for his mistake.

"I was just trying to head the ball over. It was a real kick in the teeth because the game was won and we fully deserved the three points.

"It was one of the best away performances we have put in this season and we were never in any trouble."

Bury built on their improved display against Huddersfield and QPR with a totally dominant display in which they denied Swindon a single serious effort on goal and could have won by a handsome margin with a bright second half attacking show.

And while three points from three games is scarcely cause for celebration, the future looks far brighter than it did during their previous dismal run of four successive defeats.

Without a win in seven games and still looking for their first away victory the odds were once again stacked against them against an improving Swindon side - but then the form book has never meant much to Bury.

They were desperately unlucky not to take the lead two minutes before the end of an otherwise forgettable first half when the impressive Lutel James broke well down the right and his powerful low cross was met first time by Nigel Jemson only for Frank Talia to save brilliantly at point blank. Hardworking

Things were looking bleak when inspirational skipper Chris Lucketti was carried off with a thigh strain on the stroke of half time.

But with the ever dependable Andy Woodward slipping smoothly into the centre of a rock solid defence, Nick Daws and Lenny Johnrose increasingly dominant and Adrian Littlejohn adding an extra attacking dimension alongside Jemson and James, Bury took the game to Swindon in style. The £200-a-week man James, who answered his critics with a bright and hardworking performance both with his back to and running at defenders, twice went close when he was inches away with connecting with a Johnrose cross-shot and then with a sharp shot on the turn. Johnrose should have done better than head well wide when he was left alone by Swindon's poorly timed offside trap from a Daws free kick and Jemson twice just cleared the crossbar with a dipping shot and a looping header.

Bury finally got the goal they deserved when James shook off Sol Davis and delivered a glorious cross for Littlejohn to neatly back heel his first goal for the Shakers at the near post.

"It was a great ball in from Lutel and it could sneak in for goal of the month," smiled Littlejohn.

"But we are gutted because we know it should have been three points. To play so well and have it snatched away is hard to take.

"But we all feel for Dean, it's just one of those things."

"If we can work with that spirit we will win more games than we will lose," said Warnock.

"It's a long time since we have dominated a game like that. If we just had a bit more confidence in our finishing one or two of our other chances might have gone in.

"But the lads believe in the system (4-4-2) and we are playing more good football. To lose Chris Lucketti, who is captain and such an inspirational player, and having to reshape made it difficult but Andy Woodward came of age and everything was great.

"You could sense the relief all over Wiltshire when that own goal went in, but we never do anything the easy way at Bury.

"We are not going to get any presents and we are going to have to work very hard." Kiely 7, Woodward 8, Williams 8, Daws 9, Lucketti 7, West 7, Swailes 8, Jemson 7, James 9, Johnrose 8, Billy 7. Subs: Littlejohn 8 (for Lucketti 45 mins), Preece (for Jemson 87 mins) and Souter.

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent). Att: 7,797.

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