MANAGERS Kevin Blackwell and Graham Westley have opened up a war of words ahead of their Boxing Day showdown at Deepdale.

Westley, the Preston boss, refused to shake hands with opposite number Blackwell after his side beat Bury at Gigg Lane in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy regional quarter-final on Tuesday.

The former Stevenage manager said the nature of Bury’s first goal in the 3-3 draw soured the whole tie for him, despite Preston eventually going on to win 5-4 on penalties.

He was incensed after former Deepdale favourite David Healy refused to throw the ball back to Preston after their goalkeeper cleared it into touch to allow team-mate Andy Procter to get treatment.

Instead, Bury went up the other end of the pitch and Joe Skarz scored soon after from a free-kick.

“The edge has gone off the game for me with what I thought was a disgrace from them for the first goal,” said Westley.

“To do what they did goes against the grain in terms of everything that the game is about.”

Westley’s claim of unsportsmanlike conduct will be met with a wry grin by many managers in League One, with Preston accused of gamesmanship on numerous occassions this season.

Preston certainly angered Bury fans throughout the match on Tuesday, slowing play down with regular “injury” breaks.

And Blackwell was equally unimpressed by Westley’s behaviour after the final whistle.

“As they say, you reap what you sow,” said the Bury manager.

“I’m disappointed with Graham, I have to say, because I have offered him my hand and he’s turned it away.

“I’m a manager of stature in this game, compared to Graham, and if I offer him my hand I expect him to take it.

“So I’m disappointed, and I think Graham should go home and reflect on that. He’s won tonight and should be magnanimous and move on.”

Blackwell also admitted that, while he may have been harsh on his players’ performances at times this season, he had nothing but admiration for them after they came from behind three times on the night.

He said: “I’m very proud of my players – I’ve got no complaints about them whatsoever.

“At the moment they are not getting the rewards for the effort and the quality of their play.

“You can’t keep playing like that and not win games.

“Just at the moment, things are going wrong for the club. But what you’ve got to show is passion, commitment and desire and we’ve shown that in abundance, as well as some good football against a very committed Preston side, who are an interesting team to play against.”

Bury picked up no new injury worries ahead of tomorrow night’s match at home to Shrewsbury, although were later rocked by the news that centre-back Adam Lockwood would need surgery on a long-standing groin problem and would be out for the season.