Bury’s star striker Daniel Nardiello has urged his team mates to aim high and push for promotion ahead of Saturday’s away clash with Cheltenham Town.
The Shaker’s recent back-to-back wins at Wimbledon and Mansfield have lifted them into 15th place in the table and opened up a seven-point gap above the relegation zone.
Nardiello is in fine form after scoring two goals in Tuesday night’s 4-1 crushing of Mansfield Town, taking his total to seven for the season, and believes his side can push for the play-offs.
“Our recent form is up there with the best in the league,” said the former Manchester United player. “And while it [promotion] is a tough ask, I think we are going to go for it while we can.
“We are 15th now – one point off 12th – so it is all to play for and we are confident we can get higher in the table.
“We have shown how well we can do and how well we can play and I don’t think any of us are looking backwards, we’re looking forwards.”
Bury will head to Cheltenham’s Abbey Business Stadium unbeaten in their last six league games, having taken 12 points from a possible 18 with three wins and three draws.
Conversely, their hosts have had a disappointing February, collecting only five points from their last five games and suffering a 4-1 home hammering by Chesterfield on Tuesday.
Bury’s last encounter with the Robins ended in a comfortable 4-1 victory for the home side, the goals coming from Danny Mayor, Andy Procter, Nathan Cameron and Jessy Reindorf.
However, Nardiello, whose 19 goals last season helped Rotherham United snatch automatic promotion, is well aware that despite Cheltenham’s struggles complacency is not an option.
“I have got a couple of mates that play down there and I know they have some good players so we can’t go there thinking it’s going to be an easy game,” said the 21-year-old.
“We have got to try and perform like we did [on Tuesday night]. We are confident we can go there and win the game but we have got to produce the goods on the day.”
The Shakers will be without forwards Ashley Grimes and Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro for the Cheltenham game, who are both out for a minimum of two weeks with hamstring injuries.
Manager David Flitcroft’s January acquisition of defenders Pablo Mills, Robbie McIntyre, James Burke and Jim McNulty has significantly boosted his side’s promotion chances.
But it is the signing of Nardiello on an 18-month contract that has had the biggest impacts, with his seven goals taking the Shakers tally to 37 in the league.
And despite the reshuffle, Flitcroft may return to the transfer market for a temporary replacement after allowing Tope Obadeyi to re-join Plymouth Argyle on loan.
Picture courtesy of Ingy the Wingy via Wikimedia, with thanks
