Little to cheer for Tom Eastman

Ex-Ipswich Town defender Eastman headed home Anthony Wordsworth’s 57th minute corner, to net his first goal in 21 league appearances for the U’s, since his summer arrival from Portman Road.

And yet the 20-year-old hardly celebrated, such was the U’s plight at Gigg Lane.

Eastman’s header reduced the arrears to 3-1, but Bury restored their three-goal advantage before the end to record a resounding 4-1 win.

“That was my first-ever professional goal, but I’d rather have taken a 1-0 win and not scored,” confirmed Eastman.

“It was a little bonus. I’m a big centre-half, so I think I should be scoring a few more.

“But we didn’t really look like scoring again after my goal. I’m disappointed we couldn’t kick on after that,” added Eastman.

Eastman revealed that the players had done the talking, rather than manager John Ward, during the half-time interval.

By then, the second best U’s were already trailing 2-0.

“The gaffer let the lads do the talking at half-time,” explained Eastman.

“He told us that we were the ones who had to sort it out, and find ways that we could improve.

“The mission of our game was to start higher up in the second half, but it still didn’t really work.

“We were too easy to open up in the first half, and they were able to get on top.

“In fact, it was very disappointing. Right from the start we weren’t at it really.

“Bury looked the better team, and we never looked at our best.

“We need to put in 100%, not that I’m saying that the lads didn’t work hard, but things just didn’t go our way.

“It wasn’t because Bury had so much to play for, because we always want to win every game.

“Bury seemed more confident on the ball, and I thought in the first half we were too deep.

“In the second half we were a bit better, we pushed up a bit, but still they were getting in.

“It was just one of those days, I suppose,” added Eastman, following his 37th career league game.