SHAKERS look set to sacrifice their flowing football to kick start their stuttering season.

Bury have rid themselves of their 'battling' and 'uncompromising' tags since Andy Preece took over the reins from Neil Warnock four years ago.

But their flowing, passing style at times lacks the ruthlessness needed to clinch the crucial results -- a fact reflected by the club's three opening defeats this season.

Now Preece is ready to forsake the purist's approach for a more hard-working defensive gameplan in a bid to get points on the board.

"The players need to be a bit more disciplined and need to know where they should be at certain times," he said.

"If that means keeping it tight at the back and not scoring as many goals, then so be it.

"We would love to play wonderful football but we want to be winning games. It's great that we are creating so many chances but maybe that's leaving us a bit exposed at the back."

Bury, whose defeat to Scunthorpe on Saturday followed an unlucky opening day loss at Swansea and Carling Cup exit at Tranmere, will need a major improvement if they are to stake a realistic claim for promotion this season.

But experience will keep them from panicking, having qualified for last year's play-offs despite losing their first two fixtures to Oxford and Cambridge, then only taking two wins from their first six matches.

"We were in this position last year, having lost the first two games. So we're not going to get too down about it," said Preece.

"But we do need to start getting results because that breeds confidence.

"We have to find a little bit more. We will get back on the training ground and sort it out. I know we can play better but it's just not happening at this moment in time."