LIKE the man said: "The big test of character will come when we lose."

Right on cue, Stan Ternent is about to find out whether Bury have what it takes to maintain their status as the shock troops of Division Two.

The high-riding Shakers suffered their first defeat of the season at Crewe on Tuesday night and how they respond will determine whether they continue to make progress on two fronts - the League and the Coca-Cola Cup.

The League is a long-term and far more important consideration, of course, but the cup test against Dave Bassett's Crystal Palace, which could pave the way to a much-needed cash boost, becomes the prime concern on Tuesday night when Bury stage the first leg of their second round tie.

Provided he hasn't flown the Eagles nest and joined Manchester City in the meantime, Bassett will be determined to ensure Palace don't crash out to the Shakers, as his Sheffield United side did at the same stage of last season's competition. But Bury are in the kind of mood and form that suggests they'll give Palace, or anyone else for that matter, a run for their money. The Londoners certainly won't relish the trip to Gigg.

On the league front - one draw, four wins and now one defeat - the newly-promoted Shakers have done better than expected.

Hence Ternent's expression of satisfaction after the 2-0 defeat at Gresty Road, three days after his critical assessment of his team's performance in the 3-1 home win against Rotherham!

Bury created a series of chances but came up against a goalkeeper, Steve Mautone, in inspired form on his debut for the Alex.

"It's a little setback," Ternent remarked, "that's all.

"There's always going to come a time when you lose a match. It's how we react to it that's going to be the real test." It's typical feet-on-the-ground philosophy from the Bury boss who refuses to get carried away with his team's instant adjustment to life after promotion.

"We've made a good start in the new division," he accepts. "But we are still finding our way."

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