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Bury legend Ryan Lowe claims his old club are now on par with their greatest rivals Bolton as both clubs prepare to do battle under the Gigg Lane floodlights on Monday night.
The former Shakers striker will be part of the Sky Sports punditry team covering the match alongside ex-Wanderers forward Kevin Davies.
Lowe scored the opening goal the last time the two sides met in the Capital One Cup two years ago before the Shakers were ultimately defeated by two Neil Danns goals in extra time – a player who has now switched allegiances.
Recapping that momentous evening at the Macron Stadium, Lowe told The Bolton News: “We went there as underdogs and it was one of my first games back so it was big for our fans and myself.
“We scored early on and I was taken off with four minutes to go and I remember all the fans singing my name – someone sent me the audio clip of it actually.
“They got a dodgy penalty in the last minute and won it in extra time, but if it had been at Gigg Lane it would have been entirely different.”
Now more than 17 years on from the last meeting at Gigg Lane – a 2-1 win for the Shakers – Bury and Wanderers are finally reunited in the same division.
But it is not just on the pitch where Lowe thinks Bury are now able to compete with their neighbours.
“At the time we last played we were massive underdogs,” Lowe added. “They were the bigger team in the Championship and we were in League Two.
“Now I’d say the two teams and the two clubs are on par. Bolton have had a lot of financial trouble recently and Bury have as well.
“The chairman is really backing the manager and with talk of a new stadium the club is well on the up.”
Bury made an outstanding start to the season and a perfect September earned manager David Flitcroft the manager-of-the-month award for League One.
The Shakers have slipped down to eighth since, but Lowe says they have the quality to rediscover their fine early-season form and even remain with a fighting chance of promotion come the end of the season.
“Bury had a great month in September and their capture of (James) Vaughan was such a coup.
“They have some really good players. If they can get the service to Vaughan then he possesses such quality that he will always score you goals.
“If they can stay up there come January then there’s no reason why they can’t try and consolidate up there.
“There’s plenty of space in the play-offs for Bury.”
Source
The former Shakers striker will be part of the Sky Sports punditry team covering the match alongside ex-Wanderers forward Kevin Davies.
Lowe scored the opening goal the last time the two sides met in the Capital One Cup two years ago before the Shakers were ultimately defeated by two Neil Danns goals in extra time – a player who has now switched allegiances.
Recapping that momentous evening at the Macron Stadium, Lowe told The Bolton News: “We went there as underdogs and it was one of my first games back so it was big for our fans and myself.
“We scored early on and I was taken off with four minutes to go and I remember all the fans singing my name – someone sent me the audio clip of it actually.
“They got a dodgy penalty in the last minute and won it in extra time, but if it had been at Gigg Lane it would have been entirely different.”
Now more than 17 years on from the last meeting at Gigg Lane – a 2-1 win for the Shakers – Bury and Wanderers are finally reunited in the same division.
But it is not just on the pitch where Lowe thinks Bury are now able to compete with their neighbours.
“At the time we last played we were massive underdogs,” Lowe added. “They were the bigger team in the Championship and we were in League Two.
“Now I’d say the two teams and the two clubs are on par. Bolton have had a lot of financial trouble recently and Bury have as well.
“The chairman is really backing the manager and with talk of a new stadium the club is well on the up.”
Bury made an outstanding start to the season and a perfect September earned manager David Flitcroft the manager-of-the-month award for League One.
The Shakers have slipped down to eighth since, but Lowe says they have the quality to rediscover their fine early-season form and even remain with a fighting chance of promotion come the end of the season.
“Bury had a great month in September and their capture of (James) Vaughan was such a coup.
“They have some really good players. If they can get the service to Vaughan then he possesses such quality that he will always score you goals.
“If they can stay up there come January then there’s no reason why they can’t try and consolidate up there.
“There’s plenty of space in the play-offs for Bury.”
Source