IT did not take Rob Milsom long to weigh up the strength of Bury’s squad after joining the club on loan from Championship side Rotherham United last week.

He saw enough in his first couple of training sessions and Saturday’s debut match to know they should be challenging for honours rather than slowly sinking down the League Two table.

But results do not lie, and after falling to a fourth straight defeat against Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday, Milsom knows the solution is simple.

“This club, with the players that we have got, should be top of the league,” he said.

“I think, from the first couple of days training, with the lads that are in there, they have some very good players.

“You see in training, and in patches in the game, you have got a very good team for this league. We should not be getting beaten, we should be winning comfortably against Dagenham.

“There is an experienced group of lads in there. The majority of them have played a lot of league games. They know what it is like to taste defeat and to win games.

“So the best thing to do is work hard on the training pitch and try to take that experience into the next match.

“You get a good positive result, it lifts the place and you take positive momentum from there. That’s the way football is.”

Milsom will have to wait a couple of weeks to build on his promising debut at left-back after Rotherham manager Steve Evans refused to give permission for him to play in Saturday’s second round FA Cup tie at home to Luton.

The former Aberdeen player admits a certain amount of frustration after figuring in just his second match of the season last Saturday.

After making 34 appearances last campaign, helping Rotherham to League One promotion via the play-offs, he had managed just 14 minutes of first-team football this season prior to playing the full 90 for Bury against Dagenham.

He put in a promising performance, displaying great crossing ability from the left as well as a tidy all-round game.

An ability to play in midfield or defence attracted Bury boss David Flitcroft, who is likely to use the 27-year-old in a number of different roles before his loan deal finishes at the end of January.

“I wouldn’t say I have a favourite position. Left-back, centre-midfield, left-midfield – I am happy as long as I’m playing really,” admitted Milsom.

“I had a chat with the gaffer and I think it is just going to be where and when, whatever is needed for each game.

“I want games. I want to prove to the management at Rotherham that I can play in the Championship.

“That’s the way it is. Whilst I am here I want to enjoy my football, do well for myself and obviously, in turn, do well for Bury.

“The gaffer has been great since I have come here so I will be looking to do my best for him as well.”