NIGERIAN international Efe Sodje is set to take his place in the Bury side against Stockport after signing for the Shakers on loan.

The former Macclesfield defender has made the month-long switch from Gillingham and should make Alan Knill's starting line-up at Edgeley Park.

It will be a tough start for the 35-year-old against a County outfit unbeaten in nine games.

Brian Barry-Murphy, who will be looking for revenge for County's defeat of Bury 10 days ago at Gigg Lane, is a self-confessed admirer of opposition boss Jim Gannon's philosophy.

"It will be tough," said the 29-year-old midfielder, who scored the Shakers' late equaliser against Wycombe on Tuesday night.

"Stockport are a good side and I like the way they play.

"They do play good football and Jim Gannon has got them attacking, but we are looking to attack them.

"Earlier in the season we had no fit forwards and we were quite defensive, but I think we need to go and attack teams. It's time to go for these games.

Balancing

"We are scoring two goals on a regular basis which we weren't doing before. It's a balancing act and if you have to go forward then your back four is a little bit more exposed, but you have to go for games."

Gannon believes that his side's rise into the League Two play-off places is down to a determination to stick to certain footballing principles.

Tuesday night's 4-1 victory at Rotherham lifted County into seventh spot and they'll be looking to consolidate by doing the double over Bury.

"The one thing we've kept as a management team and as a football team is the principles that we want to play the game in the right manner," said Gannon.

"We want to get the ball down and play effective football.

"Throughout the season we've stuck to those principles and the players are doing their quality justice as they showed at Rotherham."

Bury will be able to call on Ben Futcher despite the big defender picking up his 10th yellow card of the season against Wycombe.

Futcher will be suspended for the following two games against Darlington and Mansfield.

County may be without Michael Raynes, who came off at Rotherham, but Gaz Owen and Paul Turnbull are back in training and could figure.

Last season: Stockport 0 Bury 0

Key opponent: Tommy Rowe - in form youngster scored a hat-trick in midweek

Prediction: Stockport 2 Bury 1 - If young Rowe gets going County will be tough to stop

Agree with the prediction? Have your say.

Tweet