BURY’S starting formation at Stevenage on Saturday gave fans a glimpse into the style of “winning football” new manager Kevin Blackwell had promised.

Away from home, at least, it looks like the former Sheffield United boss plans to add a bit of steel and solidity to the Shakers’ play.

Bury started with two holding midfielders in Steven Schumacher and Mark Carrington, while David Healy played a more withdrawn role behind Lenell John-Lewis, before the lone frontman limped off with a serious-looking knee injury and was replaced by striker Tom Hopper.

If the 4-2-3-1 formation was designed to improve Bury’s ball retention, then it seemed to backfire early on, with a series of missed flicks and misplaced passes seeing every forward move break down before it had begun.

But, on the flip side, Carrington and Schumacher provided a decent screen for the back four and Bury had a much better shape when their attacks inevitably broke down.

However, once Hopper had put Bury in front in the 26th-minute with his first-ever league goal – a Stevenage clearance that rebounded off his head – the Shakers came out of their shell and looked a potent force.

Hopper very nearly doubled their advantage a few minutes later, with Chris Day just managing to tip away his bouncing shot.

And the home side, who started the day in third, struggled to respond, with only Luke Freeman managing a shot on target in the first half.

Bury’s brittle confidence was sorely tested after the break, however, as Stevenage turned the match on its axis with a quick-fire double.

Striker Marcus Haber equalised on 54-minutes with a back-post header from a Freeman corner before midfielder Glen Tansey curled in their second two minutes later.

Blackwell’s curious response was to replace Healy, who looked ineffective in his new role, with Peter Sweeney, and Bury’s revival only really took shape when Mark Cullen was introduced eight minutes from time.

Thrust forward alongside Hopper, he was on hand at the back post to tap in his strike partner’s centre.

Ultimately, it may not have been winning football, but if Hopper’s late header had bounced the right side of the post, Blackwell could have been hailed a magician.

As it is, the former Sheffield United boss has at least shown that there could well be light at the end of the tunnel.

STEVENAGE: Day; Gray, Ashton (Risser), Roberts, Charles; Grant (Morais), Dunne; Akins, Tansey, Freeman (Shroot); Haber.

Not used: Arnold, Ball, Comminges, Lopez.

BURY: Carson 7; A Jones 6, Lockwood 6, Hughes 6, Skarz 6; Schumacher 7, Carrington 6 (Cullen 7); Worrall 6, Healy 6 (Sweeney 6), Hopper 8; John-Lewis 6 (Marshall 6).

Not used: Byrne, Elford-Alliyu, Sodje, Belford.

Referee: Graham Scott

Attendance: 2,660.