The Bulls travel to Gigg Lane for a rearranged League Two game against Bury on Tuesday night.
The venue has changed much since the Bulls last trip there nearly eleven years ago. That day in March 1996 Bury ran out 2-0 winners with one of the scorers, Michael Jackson, a team mate of Bulls loanee Stephen Jennings last season. It was the second part of a Shakers double over the Bulls that season, following up a 4-3 win at Edgar Street earlier in the season with Bulls legend Phil Stant bagging the winner for Bury.
Since the Bulls gained a tepid 1-0 win over Bury at Edgar Street in mid September, the Shakers have been on the up - rising above the Bulls into eighth at one stage. Recent form has been poor, however, and the Shakers have not won in the last seven games - coinciding with the club being thrown out of the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player. Strikers Andy Bishop and Glynn Hurst have formed a formidable partnership since Hurst arrived from Shrewsbury, bagging 19 goals between them, but Hurst hasn't scored in any of the last seven games.
The Bulls were a visibly better side with the additions of Steve Guinan and Ben Smith as they beat Notts County at the weekend, and there appears to be a renewed energy in the camp. Guinan, the old man of the squad at 31, will be keen to build on his sensational return to the Bulls and prove his worth as a permanent signing. Graham Turner has suggested that two more players could be on their way into Edgar Street, so departures should also be expected by Wednesday's transfer deadline.
Bury vs Hereford United, Gigg Lane, Tuesday 30th January, 7.45pm.