Following their less than perfect start to the season, and a 3-0 loss at home to Bournemouth, Bury looked to their game with West Brom to improve their chances. Their opposition however, were relegated from the Premiership last season and looked certain to put up a considerable fight. The Shakers started the season without their top scorer from last season, Andy Bishop, who is suffering an early setback and recovering from a hernia operation, and tonight was no exception. Danny Carlton and Ryan Lowe were paired upfront in his place, with Racchi and Jones on the wings. A familiar face was between the sticks for West Brom, as Dean Kiely made his return visit to Gigg Lane to applause from the Bury faithful.

An early free kick into the box from Jones on the left hand side on three minutes looked destined for the head of Lowe, but his header soared well over the bar. Minutes later and a mistake from Scott on the edge of the box paved the way for Teixeira to wander into the box and square the ball for Cox who made no mistake, firing past Brown to open the Baggies' account for the evening.

Shakers 0 Baggies 1

Bury had two corners in quick succession shortly after the restart, with the second one resulting in the Shakers being penalised for a foul from Racchi. With fifteen minutes gone, a cross field ball from Teixeira somehow made it's way to the feet of Zuiverloon just outside the box. His powerful drive tested Brown in the Bury net, but it was just over the bar.

Zuiverloon ran through the Bury defence with ease on 18 minutes, and had a close range shot blocked by Brown, before Beattie tried again with the ricochet and buried it in the back of the net. The linesman on the far side judged him to be offside though, and the deficit remained at one goal.

With twenty-five minutes on the clock, it was a spurt of end to end action. It started with a Bury free kick on the right of the area from Murphy, which was whipped in the feet of Carlton at the far post but he squandered his chance. The Baggies broke free on a counter attack, with the killer pass coming from Zuiverloon on the right hand side of the box, and ended with Jones putting it in the back of his own net from close range. A strong West Brom team were giving the Shakers a run for their money.

Shakers 0 Baggies 2

Things didn't look good when Danny Carlton was helped off the pitch with half an hour gone after a hefty challenge resigned him to the dugout. Domaine Rouse came on in his place and joined Ryan Lowe upfront.

Substitute for Bury on 30 minutes - Domaine Rouse on for Danny Carlton

A resounding run from Zuiverloon on 36 minutes resulted in a quick cross from the right hand side of the box, meeting the feet of Beattie, whose curling shot was just over the bar. A clever pass from Dawson moments later from outside the box was controlled well by Rouse, who turned and shot from close range, only to skim past the post with Kiely outstretched. Some nifty footwork from Scott, Rouse and Jones combined on 40 minutes on the right hand side of the box. Jones took a shot from inside the area, but it was blocked for a corner. Jones took it, sending it fast and low into the box; Sodje surged forward for the free header but it was cleared by the Baggies' back line.

Dawson latched onto a loose ball ten yards outside the box just before half time, and sent a low drive towards goal from just outside the box, but it landed in the arms of Kiely. Two minutes of added time were indicated by the fourth official as West Brom launched forward again. Bury had a good chance to pull a goal back just before the whistle after Dawson attacked the ball with his head and set up Lowe on the right hand side of the box. His quick cross was crying out for a close range blast from the waiting Rouse, but it was just out of reach.

The first half was a testament to a now Championship side who get forward in numbers, and who importantly get back in numbers as well. The Baggies' pace was troubling the Shakers defence, and their strength at the back was fending off Racchi and Jones rather easily. For Bury to get a goal back in this game, it would have to be something very special.

Half Time - Shakers 0 Baggies 2

Seven minutes into the second half and Bury made a resounding run forward with Jones. The cross into the box came from the right hand side and was deflected by the Baggies' defence and away from danger.

Substitute for Bury on 56 minutes - Richie Baker on for BBM

Rouse did well moments after the substitution, threading a loose ball through into the box for Jones. He fired a powerful drive towards goal, but it was just wide of the post.

Substitution for Bury on the hour - Simon Johnson on for Danny Racchi

Yellow card for West Brom on 61 minutes - Rueben Reid

Ryan Lowe latched onto a long ball forward from Brown 63 minutes; controlling it on his chest, he took the ball round Kiely but his final shot was blocked and sent out of play for a corner. Sodje looked to have scored for Bury on 67 minutes after Jones sent in a free kick to the far post. The towering Nigerian took his header well, beating Kiely, but the linesman judged him to be offside and the score-line stayed at 2-0.

Jones made some room on the right hand side of the box on 71 minutes, passing the ball through to Lowe who looked to be in a promising position, but the linesman once again raised his flag for offside. Some lovely play from Jones on 75 minutes saw him set up Lowe on yet another surging run forwards, only to see his shot go wide of the far post. Johnson set off on a fine run on the left hand side with almost ten minutes left, passing across the field to Dawson, who then set up Jones on the right. He sent in a cross for Lowe but his chance was wasted.

Substitution for West Brom on 80 minutes - Chris Wood on for Simon Cox

Yellow card for Bury on 80 minutes - Stephen Dawson

Graham Dorrans looked set to make it three for West Brom with less than five minutes remaining, after making a fine run through the Bury defence. His initial shot was blocked, but he still had enough left to try another shot which went wide. Beattie had a go at extending the tally for the Baggies moments later with a free kick after Sodje was penalised, but he sent the ball way over the bar with Brown untroubled. Johnson retaliated with another strong run down the left seconds later, sending in a cross from almost the touchline. It was left screaming out for a final touch but it went begging.

Two minutes of additional time were indicated by the fourth official as Dawson tried an ambitious shot from well outside the area which was blocked. The referee eventually called time on a game which had seen Bury play two very different halves.

After initially being outplayed by the Baggies in the first half and looking a step off the Championship pace, Bury played much better in the second half, making more passes count and fighting for a goal. They came close to grabbing one as well, with Ryan Lowe making some chances and linking up well with Rouse after being thrown in at the deep end after Carlton hobbled off. With fears of an achilles injury, things aren't looking too good for Danny after a heavy challenge in the first half.

The Shakers were ultimately beaten by a much stronger side, and there can't be too many complaints with that. The Shakers put up much more of a fight in the second half, and might feel hard done by to not have claimed a goal by the end. Bury travel to Darlington in their next game, and look for their first league win to take them from second bottom in the table. They may be out of the Carling Cup, but the marathon of the league is still anyone's game.

Full Time - Shakers 0 Baggies 2

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