Bury v MK Dons: surprise results

Jermaine Beckford – burytimes.co.uk

The award for Tuesday’s shock result in the EFL goes to Bury’s 3-0 win over Oxford.

It felt similar to their 5-1 victory over Peterborough in January last year, in that they had been on such a bad run of form – no wins since the opening day – that no-one expected it.

Until that night, the only other two players apart from Jermaine Beckford to have scored for the Shakers were centre-backs who are no longer in contention: Alex Bruce is now at Wigan and Nathan Cameron is out injured.

Beckford, who had scored an excellent strike at Charlton on Saturday, extended his personal tally to six goals. However, in the victory he was joined on the scoresheet by target man Michael Smith and deeper forward Chris Maguire. The latter perhaps needed a game against his old club to come to the fore and he showed great creativity, as well as slotting home the penalty for the opener.

MK Dons could have done with the ex-Sheffield Wednesday man’s craft in Tuesday’s goalless draw with Northampton Town. That game saw them have more of the ball but enjoy less goal-mouth action, mustering just 10 shots against the relegation strugglers.

That blank might seem in keeping with their general form – nine goals in 10 League One games – but they had scored five in the preceding two encounters. They posed a threat on the break at Kingsmeadow, with Osman Sow and Scott Golbourne creating the two goals. Sow is prepared to roam into wide areas to contribute in the build-up play and that creates space for other players like Gboly Ariyibi, who now has three goals in three, to get in on the act.

Ariyibi and co. though will have to get past an improving Bury defence that has conceded just once in three games. Alex Whitmore is steadily improving after a tough start and the team looks slightly more balanced with three-at-the-back, the energetic Chris Humphrey and Greg Leigh occupying the wing-back roles..

MK Dons don’t concede many either though – outside the top eight, no side has shipped fewer goals. Another three-goal haul for Bury looks unlikely.

The Football Lab’s Verdict: 1-2