TWO games and two defeats have left Bury manager Andy Preece calling for more concentration from his team.

The Shakers go into Saturday's opening home game of the new campaign, against Scunthorpe United, in search of their first point of the season.

Last Saturday's 4-2 defeat at Swansea City was followed by an unlucky 1-0 Carling Cup reverse at Second Division Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday night.

In both matches the Shakers made bright starts only to concede goals in the closing minutes and with that in mind the boss is calling for extra effort in the latter stages of games.

"It's a matter of players looking at each other and encouraging each other to keep things going a little longer," he said.

"Competing for 90 minutes is something we can work on in terms of fitness, but the players need to show the desire and concentration to finish the job off.

"It's important we get our first points on the board and we need to give what we gave in the first half of the Tranmere game for the full 90 minutes. If we do that we will beat Scunthorpe.

"Everyone is looking forward to getting out in front of our home fans and hopefully we'll reward them with a win."

The Iron, managed by Brian Laws, also got their season off to a bad start with a 2-1 home defeat to Bristol Rovers on the opening day.

However, they bounced back by knocking crisis-club Oldham Athletic out of the Carling Cup in midweek courtesy of a 2-1 victory at Glanford Park.

They, like the Shakers, lost out at the first hurdle in the Third Division promotion play-offs last season and will have high hopes of going up at the end of the season.

In Peter Beagrie the former Everton, Manchester City and Bradford City winger they have a potential matchwinner who will have to be well marshalled and club skipper Lee Duxbury ran the rule over them against his former club in midweek.

Preece will also be hoping for another top display from his new back line after shipping those four goals in the first league game.

Encouragingly, he declared himself well pleased with Tuesday night's defensive display after the profligacy in South Wales days earlier.

"We looked good at the back," he said.

"Tranmere were really dangerous, but we tightened up and I was pleased with the way we defended overall.

"There weren't too many clear cut chances created and I think a bit of tiredness may have cost us their winner in the end."

Goalkeeper Glynn Garner put in a fine performance on Merseyside and he, for one, believes there's nothing to get worried about after two defeats.

"There really isn't a problem, we lost the first two last year and ended up going on a good run and finishing in the play-offs," he said.

"We have played some good football and the defence is gelling well in front of me, so I'm very confident about things."

Preece has no fresh injury problems following the Tranmere game with only midfielders Terry Dunfield (shoulder) and Paul O'Shaughnessy (foot ligaments) unavailable for selection.