Bury manager David Flitcroft expressed the urgency for consistency in the team, which he believes more experienced players could bring ahead of Saturday’s fixture against high flying Burton Albion at the JD Stadium.
The Shakers manager faces tough opposition against the Brewers, who are unbeaten in nine League Two matches to takem them to second in the table and Flitcroft stressed that there are too many inexperienced players at the club at present.
“Consistency is something that any promotion winning team need,” the ex-Barnsley manager said.
“Also we’ve got young players in the squad and we have to rectify that and make sure we can get players in who have seen it, been there and done it.
“It’s that middle range – that bracket of 25 to 30-year-olds that have been around the game and know the game, but are still dynamic.”
Bury have taken eight points from six matches under Flitcroft, who took over from previous caretaker manager Ronnie Jepson, however last weekend’s 4-0 hammering at Chesterfield left them 19th in League Two on 27 points, just one point above the relegation zone.
Burton Albion have had a mixed start to January with a 0-0 draw to Mansfield, a 2-1 win against Cheltenham and a 4-1 defeat to AFC Bournemouth in The FA Cup on Tuesday.
The two last met in August 2013, where it ended in a 2-2 draw with Bury goals from Anton Forrester and William Edjenguele.
Despite a marked improvement in the Shakers recent performances including a 3-0 win against Hartlepool on New Year’s Day Flitcroft has instructed the players to compete with fighting spirit against the Brewers.
“I’ve asked for more courage and bravery in getting on the ball and making things happen,” the 40-year-old told the Bury FC youtube channel.
“You can’t give the best teams in the league time and you certainly can’t give them the ball back.
“It’s a case of keep learning and getting better and we will, no doubt about that. We are lads that want to learn and a group of players who want to improve.”
The shakers squad is very much in a transitional phase under Flitcroft and the Bury manager has released five players in January – Shaun Harrad, Gareth Roberts, Marlon Jackson, Jessy Reindorf and Euan Holden.
Whilst defenders Pablo Mills, Robbie McIntyre, James Burke and Frederic Veseli, have all arrived since the turn of the year.
The 29-year-old Mills is an experienced player with a decade in the professional game, however the other three new signings joined the Shakers with just three senior appearances between them.
“The likes of Burke and McIntyre – they’ve not played many league games between them,” he told BBC radio Manchester.
“They’re probably not signings for now, but they’re good players to develop and good characters.”
Image courtesy of BeanySports via YouTube, with thanks.
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