Gerrard looking to keep Vaughan quiet

BEST OF FRIENDS . . . Anthony Gerrard and James Vaughan

ANTHONY Gerrard will rub up against a long-standing mate when James Vaughan takes to the field as Bury's main goal threat tomorrow.

One of the hottest strikers around, the 28-year-old has been in brilliant form since the turn of the year, bagging half of his season's tally of 20 goals in his last eight outings for the struggling Shakers.

A former team-mate of Gerrard's, first at Everton and then with Huddersfield Town, Vaughan's career to date has been badly interrupted by injuries.

That might partly be explained, Gerrard suggests, by his whole-hearted approach to the game, one that should ensure sparks fly at SportsDirect.com Park in the derby.

"I've known James Vaughan all my career and all my life since we were 15," said Gerrard. "He's a great lad and a great footballer who wears his heart on his sleeve.

'TACKLE ANYTHING'

"He will throw himself into any tackle and tackle anything that moves. His injury record suggests how honest he is and he goes into tackles where his chances are 60-40 against him, or even 70-30.

"If you wanted one player to go out and do the nasty, dirty work then it would be him.

"He's in a rich vein of form, but hopefully we can keep up our defensive record and stifle him."

Gerrard's centre-back colleague Peter Clarke, another former Evertonian and team-mate of Vaughan's at Huddersfield, missed out on the Sky Bet League One player of the month prize.

Billy Sharp of Sheffield United claimed it instead, but Gerrard feels his four-goal skipper's influence - and that of similarly outstanding goalkeeper Connor Ripley - has had a major influence in getting the club out of the relegation zone.

"Clarkey has been outstanding this year," Gerrard said. "He is the leading goal scorer and has kept the most clean sheets in the league along with Connor Ripley, myself and the rest of the back four."

While he will be geared up for the contest against Lee Clark's resurgent Bury outfit, Gerrard says it's important that Athletic keep their cool.

Brian Wilson and Lee Croft sit the game out through suspension and with plenty of important fixtures to come after this one - not least, Oxford at home on Tuesday - John Sheridan's side must stay focused.

'ATMOSPHERE'

"You don't want to get lost in the atmosphere of a harem-scarem derby and start smashing into people," said Gerrard, restored to the for the last two outings at Northampton and Walsall after serving a two-match FA ban.

"We have another nine games to go after this one which are just as big.

"We are aiming for three points - there are no more than that on offer just because it's a derby.

"It's just another game, though it is one that has the added pressure of knowing they are in and around us."

Bury have the worst disciplinary record among League One clubs this season, with 92 yellow cards and seven reds, and Clark is also urging calm from his side.

"You have got to have controlled aggression," Clark told the Bury Times. "You cannot lose your discipline.

"To win any football match it's hard enough with 11. If you haven't got 11 players on the pitch it will make it difficult."