By Jack Simpson
Bury host Millwall in League One with both sides facing starkly different challenges.
The Shakers are in awful form, with no wins in 12 games in all competitions and conceding 33 goals in the process. They now have the third worse defence in the league. They could drop into the relegation zone if they lose and other results go against team.
Jacob Mellis and Greg Leigh are suspended following their sending offs in Bury’s 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United. However striker Tom Pope and utility man Craig Jones have returned to full fitness and will hope to be involved against the Lions.
Millwall though are on a decent run of form, with three wins in their last five games. Manager Neil Harris will be without striker Steve Morrison who has a knee injury, however his strike partner Lee Gregory is close to full fitness along with defender Shaun Hutchinson.
Bury also have issues off the field following the sacking of David Flitcroft and have yet to appoint a replacement with Chris Brass in temporary charge of first team affairs.
Just spoken to @andybishop10 – he says he has not applied for the #buryfc managers job and is backing Chris Brass to take the job full-time
— Mikael McKenzie (@MMckenzie93) November 24, 2016
Speaking to the Bury Times, Brass said: “We have got a big game now against Millwall… Let’s continue to get back to what we are, let’s get everybody understanding it and let’s do it in front of our home fans.”
Should The Lions win they could be one point off the play-offs, however if they lose they could be four points from the drop zone.
Harris has warned his side ahead of the meeting to beware of a potential backlash from Bury.
Speaking to the official Millwall website Harris, said: “We have to make sure we are as good without the ball as we were against Wimbledon and be slightly wiser in possession than we were on that occasion.”
Millwall have had less possession than their opponents in the last two games, so they need to make it count when they have the ball.