WAKE up Bury! The slipping Shakers need an early alarm call before this little slumber is allowed to become a winter hibernation.

It's alright home and away managers giving them flattering acclaim. But it's too early to start living off reputations which they distinctly appeared to be doing as they switched on automatic pilot against lively Luton.

You can do that when you've achieved something - and the most striking thing Bury have managed is to fail to win in four games.

They had three glorious chance to end that sequence on Saturday but for once their finishing let them down to deny them a victory they never deserved.

It could have been worse had Dean Kiely's reflexes not been razor-sharp to beat away Bontcho Guentchev's early rocket and tip Andrew Fotiadis' rasping low drive around the foot of the post after the Luton striker had left the Bury back line standing midway through the second half.

It would have been equally tough on the Shakers to lose despite a below par performance which disappointed manager Stan Ternent.

"We looked lethargic and didn't seem to have any spark," he reflected. "But we didn't lose and that's important.

"We did a lot of huffing and puffing but didn't have a lot of craft. We've still got our 'L' plates on in this division but in 12 to 18 months I believe wil will have six or seven very good players here - I've no doubt about that."

A yardstick to the progress Bury have made was provided by Luton's satisfaction in coming away from Gigg Lane with a point. "This is a hard place to come to," he assured. "And you've got to come to places like this and get a result if you are going to be successful."

Lawrence had Marvin Johnson to thank for going away with something after the central defender sprung to his side's rescue to clear off the line when Mark Carter looked a cast iron certainty to score with a free header six yards out.

It just wasn't Carter's day, the elusive striker again finding acres of space only to blast his volley sky high after brilliant work on the right by Dean West.

And David Johnson fared no better after a neat one-two with Carter penetrated the Luton defence. His lack of composure in front of goal, which seems to be the biggest problem for this exciting young talent, was again glaringly evident in his horribly wayward finish with only keeper Ian Feuer to beat.

"I took the shot too early," admitted Johnson, reflecting on his gilt-edged 69th minute opportunity.

"He's such a big keeper so I tried to keep it low but ended up blazing it wide. It's another golden chance which has gone begging but I thought we would keep going and nick one at the end.

"We didn't play well but I didn't think they were ever going to score."

FORM GUIDE: Kiely 8, West 6, Armstrong 6, Daws 6, Butler 7, JACKSON 8, Hughes 7, Johnson 6, Jepson 6, Johnrose 7, Carter 6.Subs: Matthews (for Johnson 77 mins), Stant (for Carter 82 mins) and Rigby. Att: 3,588.

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