First of all, put the sharp objects away and leave the R.E.M CD's alone if you're going to brave reading this report because it's not a pleasant read (writing it wasn't fun either I can assure you!)

If, as Chris Casper said, "games don't come any bigger than those against Rochdale" then you'll want to avoid bury tomorrow as it might well be gridlocked with the open top bus celebrations throughout the town as they overcame the anything but mighty Rochdale 2-1 at Giggle Lane.

An absolute horror show of a performance left the thirteen hundred plus Dale fans angry and probably made them wonder why they bothered. 

Someone earlier asked me if I could pick out a positive from the game and I drew a blank.  There was nothing we could take from the game that offered anything like encouragement.  This, for many was the final straw with regards the manager.  Unfortunately that time came a few games ago for me, this just further enraged me.

I wouldn't have minded as much had we been up against a good team like Grimsby or Carlisle but bury were bloody awful as well, we just made them look a lot less awful than they usually are. 

As predicted, the same team that drew against Grimsby on Tuesday was selected with Gilks, McArdle, Gallimore, Jackson, Griffiths, Ramsden, Cooksey, Doolan, Jones, Christie and Lambert starting the game.

We didn't play well from minute one and let bury into attack us whenever they felt like it.  By all rights, bury should have been ahead earlier than they were when Jackson let a ball bounce right into the path of former Dale target Jon Daly who attempted an overhead kick but completely missed the ball.  Had he connected, we'd have been in a bit of bother.

Dale still couldn't get into the game.  It was hoofball like we'd not seen since Barrow was in charge and peoples necks must have been hurting after a while.  bury were bossing the midfield with David Flitcroft giving Gary Jones and John Doolan a lesson in playing central midfield.  Doesn't sound right that statement does it?  Well, that just sums up what we were like.

bury continued to attack at will and it was all too easy for them as well.  Gilks made a save from Daly which fell to Tom Youngs who shot but a brilliant block from Gallimore saw it go out for a corner instead.

Now if you read the official site, Gallimore was at fault for what happened next.  If you stood where we were however, you could only come to the conclusion that once again, a huge Matt Gilks cock up has cost us a goal.  Gallimore had a throw in and was lacking options, he threw back to Gilks who merely had to pass it back to him but no, he can't do that can he!  Just like at Wycombe back in December, he takes a touch and boots it straight at Youngs and it goes in to make it 1-0.  Even the one person who always backs up Matthew Gilks at games called his newest blunder "inexcusable."

Things didn't improve after the goal for the visitors either and we found it in our hearts to give bury possession like it was Christmas and Birthday rolled into one.  Kasper Schmeichel could have been for a brew and taken the dog for a walk in the first half because we simply didn't create anything.

Boos rang out from the Cemmy End as the referee blew for half time.  Surely the second half couldn't be as bad.  When were Rochdale going to show up?  In fact the half time break was the best thing about the whole afternoon as we were treated to some of bury's finest totty cheerleading on the pitch!  There were a couple of reet nice looking ones actually!  In fact they could have played for us and done a much better job!  It would have been much more enjoyable to watch as well!

Dale were still nowhere to be see as bury made it 2-0 just after the break when one of their many loanees broke down the right and his pace and age gap of over ten years got the better of Gallimore who couldn't keep up with him.  Gobern broke inside the box and got in a shot at goal which Gilks got a hand to but he couldn't stop it from going in.  More booing from the Cemmy End was heard and the odd negative comment shouted.  Much more calm than I thought it would be. 

There was no let up, bury kept on attacking and Dale kept on letting them.  It was as simple as that, this report probably makes bury sound like a good side but they were far from it, we just made them look like a decent side.

Gilks was managing to keep out everything else that came his way and was probably one of the best Dale players on the pitch despite the enormous balls up earlier which cost us the first goal.  That says an awful lot about our performance if you ask me. He made save after save and prevented it from being a cricket score.

With only twenty minutes left, shock horror!! Rochdale finally showed up for a very brief spell and their first effort on goal got us back in the game at 2-1.  Rickie Lambert will claim the assist but it bounced off a defender straight into the path of Gary Jones who found himself one on one with Schmeichel and he finished into the bottom corner.  A lifeline perhaps?

That was it though unfortunately, they disappeared again and bury continued to attack and take the piss like they had begun to do leading up to the goal.

Lambert had an effort that flew miles wide of the goal and straight into the legs of the steward far away to our right behind the goal and John Doolan managed a shot on target late on but that was all Dale could muster up.

An absolute shocker of a performance again and to be quite frank, I've had enough of it.  This run is obviously not stopping anytime soon.  The facts speak for themselves.

We've had 2 wins in our last 18 games against two teams who have been below us all season.  We've got 12 points from a possible 54.  We're second bottom in the form table.  We've kept 2 clean sheets all season, that being 41 games in total.  We've gone from being in the hunt for automatic promotion in November to being just 7 points off the relegation zone in 16th place.

You tell me that is good enough.

Player Ratings:

Matt Gilks 4 Horrendous mistake cost us the first goal.  Arguably at fault for the second according to the Y3K report.  Other than costing us the game he did well!

Rory McArdle 6 One of our better players which says a lot.

Tony Gallimore 5 Did well for the first 40 minutes or so but from then on he struggled severely to keep up with that lad on the right for them

Gareth Griffiths 6 I dread to think what today would have been like without him clearing with his head every time they got a ball in.  Not as bad as most.

Mark Jackson 6 Made a mistake in the first half but wasn't bad overall.

Simon Ramsden 5 Never got into the game at all

Ernie Cooksey 5 Tried but the game bypassed the midfield

Gary Jones 5 Awful for the most part.  Was taught a lesson by Flitcroft of all people.  Good goal though.

John Doolan 4 Awful for the whole game.  His worst performance to date for the club

Rickie Lambert 5 Set up the goal but was denied any service whatsoever

Iyesden Christie 5 Not impressive again

Subs:  

Chris Dagnall 5 Came on early in the second half for Ramsden who was feeling the effect of the injury he picked up on Tuesday and didn't get into the game at all

Ben Kitchen 5 Couldn't get into the game what with bury dominating!

Lee Cartwright 5 Don't think he touched the ball

Photo: Action Images

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