Bury manager David Flitcroft has said that his spirited side will be lively against an improving Oxford United, as they travel away to the Kassam Stadium.
The Shakers will be hoping last weekend’s dramatic last-minute equaliser against Luton Town in the FA Cup can act as a spring board for their league form.
With no midweek fixture Flitcroft has said that it has allowed his players to recuperate and the rest has reinvigorated a fully fit squad.
“We’ll certainly have a lot of energy on the pitch, that’s what I do know – we’ve got a highly competitive squad,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot of strengths in our team that they’re going to have to try and nullify and deal with that.
“We’ll have a lot of dynamic power to take on a good Oxford team that have been able to build and put together a strong squad.”
The Shakers come into the match on the back of three consecutive league defeats, a run that has seen them slip out of the League Two playoff places.
In stark contrast to Bury, Oxford’s recent form has been impressive and Saturday’s hosts are unbeaten in their last five outings.
United could give on loan Bristol City striker Wes Burns his debut, as Tyrone Barnett plays his last game for the club.
John Campbell and Chey Dunkley are back in contention, but the match comes too soon for strikers Will Hoskins and James Roberts.
Bury only took one point from the two encounters between the sides last season and suffered a 2-1 defeat away at the U’s in August 2013.
But Shakers forward Ryan Lowe has said that the atmosphere at the JD Stadium has remained positive despite the recent run of results.
“The mood around the place is second to none – we’ve had a few bad results but we’re looking to kick on from here,” said Lowe.
“With the quality of players we’ve got here, we should have been doing a lot better than we have, we know that.”
Main image courtesy of Bury Football Club via YouTube, with thanks.
