Bury defender Jim McNulty was left devastated after Bury concede a ‘poxy goal’ in their 1-1 draw with Oxford at the JD Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Runcorn-born defender played in a much improved Shakers side who took a second half lead courtesy of Craig Jones’s strike in the 56th-minute only for Josh Ruffels to equalise two minutes later.
The result saw Bury jump three places to 17th in the League Two table on 32 points however McNulty was disappointed not to keep a clean sheet and gain all three points against promotion contenders Oxford United.
“I’m devastated that we haven’t got a clean sheet tonight. It’s a poxy goal that we have conceded,” the 28-year-old told Bury’s club website.
“We’ve scored a great goal and they’ve scored from a pathetic corner and none of us are happy about it. It won’t happen to us again.
“We’ve had two clean sheets in the last two games and us lads at the back thrive off them. We need to continue with defensive solidity and a hard defence.
“Teams that don’t concede goals climb the league and we just need to start bringing the whole package together.”
It was striker Daniel Nardiello who created the opening goal, sending in a cross from the left that Clarke spilled into the feet of Jones at the back post, who fired into an empty net.
However, shortly after a defensive lapse from a Danny Rose corner, Ruffles was gifted his first goal for Oxford United with an easy header.
Despite the point maintaining the Shakers good run of just one defeat in their last seven matches McNulty warned that despite improvement Bury can not afford to be complacent.
“The cushion isn’t comfortable in the league table, it could have been a great win tonight and that would have made it slightly more comfortable,” the former Everton trainee said.
“We have a very long trip to Torquay on Saturday but a long trip to get three points. We are very determined about that.
“The manager has talked about courage and bravery and we’ve got to start from the back. I do believe we are going in the right direction and we will climb the table.”
Image courtesy of Official Tranmere Rovers via youtube, with thanks
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