BOLTON and Bury may be only ten miles apart on the map but when it comes to playing football, according to Malcolm Shotton, they're in different worlds.

That's why Oxford United's manager will stress the need to be ready to battle as the U's look for their first away league win of the season at Gigg Lane tonight.

"It's going to be a very hard game for us and not necessarily any easier than Saturday's at Bolton," he said. "This will be a physically hard match and poles apart from Bolton. They are technically excellent but against Bury, you need brute force."

Shotton added: "Bury's players are strong and they play to their strengths. They play a high percentage game where they boot it forward and then try to make sure they win the second ball."

United's squad have been staying and training near Huddersfield and, buoyed up by the 1-1 draw at the Reebok Stadium, they relaxed on Sunday by playing golf, go-karting and going to a leisure centre.

Fastest on the go-kart track, according to reports, was Joey Beauchamp, but the winger who was dropped at the weekend, partly because his mind wasn't right following transfer talks with Fulham, shouldn't expect to motor his way straight back into the side. He seems likely to start only if Christophe Remy fails a fitness test today on a bruised kneecap.

"Joey will certainly be in the squad but the Fulham business was only part of the reason I didn't play him on Saturday," Shotton said. "We needed a formation which made us solid and I was pleased with the way it worked."

Bury have gone seven games without a win. The gate tonight is likely to be below 5,000 and, with United taking around 150, it may end up as the lowest of the season.

Former Ipswich defender Chris Swailes returns after a one-match suspension.

French striker Laurent D'Jaffo, who has hit three goals this season, leads the Shakers' three-man attack with Rob Matthews and Andy Preece on either side.

Bury drew 1-1 at home to Stockport on Saturday and, with away games at Sunderland and Manchester United (in the Worthington Cup) in the next seven days, boss Neil Warnock is demanding an improvement.

"Oxford got a cracking result at Bolton and my informants at the game say it was one of the hardest-working displays they've ever seen," he said.

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