Bury manager David Flitcroft has had to start sending his players home – because they don’t want to leave their state-of-the-art new facility at Carrington.
The Shakers suffered their first defeat in 11 league games when they were beaten by a late Oxford United strike at Gigg Lane last weekend.
However, Flitcroft is optimistic about bouncing back this weekend against Mansfield Town, especially as his team – at one stage without a decent training setup which the manager feared would plague them – have taken to their new facility.
“We’ve settled into a routine at Carrington now,” said the 41-year-old manager. “My biggest problem is getting the players to go home!
“It’s important to spend time in the gym, both physically and mentally, and we encourage the players to do that.
“However, because the environment here is so good I’m going to have to set them times to go home, because it can impact your energy levels on a Saturday.”
Midfielder Tom Soares, speaking after the defeat to Oxford, was optimistic that Bury would return to form this Saturday.
“We just have to go to Mansfield with our game plan and hopefully we’ll come away with the three points – then kick on with another run,” said the former Stoke man.
“It’s a good place to go and try to build again so hopefully we can do that.”
A win could take Bury up to fourth but they will be without Daniel Nardiello, who may be in contention for next weekend’s clash with Northampton.
Flitcroft is well aware of the challenge Mansfield Town represent, despite Bury’s nine-match unbeaten run against Saturday’s opponents which stretches back 10 years.
“It’s a game we’re really looking forward to and last season we put in one of our best performances since I’ve been manager,” said Flitcroft.
“We will be focussing on what we do, under the old manager they had a really direct style, probably the most direct I’d come across as a manager.
“[Mansfield manager] Paul Murray’s been able to bring some players in, and he’s been able to implement a philosophy.
“He was a top-class footballer he wants them playing with more of a passing style and move the ball round the pitch.
“It’s a really wide pitch, and when you’ve got that, you can move the ball around and he’s got some players in to help him do that.”
Main image courtesy of Bury Football Club via YouTube, with thanks.
