GLYNN Garner made two excellent late saves to deny top scorer Grant Holt a final goal before he starts a three-match ban.

Garner also produced a superb one-handed stop to deny Paul Tait in the 61st minute; the striker coming back from his own three-match suspension.

But this keenly contest derby in front of 4,606 fans also saw Bury create enough opportunities to have won the match.

Colin Kazim-Richards had the ball in the net after 49 minutes but referee Chris Foy, who didn't have the best of games, disallowed it for a foul by Chris Porter.

Simon Whaley and Brian Barry-Murphy also forced Rochdale keeper Michael Gilks into several stops in the first half that was all one-way traffic in Bury's favour.

However, honours finished even. Bury haven't beaten their neighbours at Gigg Lane since 1983 though Rochdale's point leaves their slender play-off hopes hanging by a thread.

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