Clarke goal downs Latics

CLOSE . . . Mike Jones almost scored with a free-kick.

ATHLETIC 0 BURY 1

See the longer report with pictures.

LEON Clarke's early goal saw the return of John Sheridan to SportsDirect.com Park end in another defeat.

Former Athletic loan striker Clarke pounced on a defensive error for a robust Shakers side, who went home with a first three-point haul away from Gigg Lane since October.

Athletic started positively, after Sheridan had been given a big welcome home.

But the optimism was punctured in the 10th minute. James Wilson failed to deal with a ball he allowed to bounce and Clarke pounced to turn it home under Joel Coleman.

Clarke went close again in a scramble from a Bury corner, while at the other end Liam Kelly just failed to get enough on his close-range header from a Jonathan Forte cross.

Matt Palmer, the new loan signing from Burton, was bright and he forced a very good save from Ian Lawlor on 40 minutes, firing in a powerful shot from the edge of the area which was dipping in under the crossbar only to be tipped over.

Athletic started well in the second half and Lawlor was forced into making a great save from Mike Jones's free-kick.

Timothee Dieng poked wide from another Jones set-piece while at the other end, Andrew Tutte contrived to skim a shot off the crossbar with the whole goal to aim at.

Dieng appeared to be shoved in the box by Pope as a corner came in at one stage.

But though Athletic threw bodies forward, they could not find an equaliser, increasing the now desperate struggle against relegation.