DAVID Flitcroft has challenged his side to make the final “810 minutes” of their season count.

Just nine games remain of a campaign that has seen Bury fall from the top of the table before hauling themselves back to the verge of the automatic promotion places.

They go into Saturday’s home match against play-off chasers Northampton just four points outside the top three.

And their manager is clearly keen to finish the job without the need to enter into the end-of-season lottery.

“I said to the players ‘810 minutes’,” he said after Tuesday’s night’s 1-0 win at York.

“They have done 3,400 minutes already this season. They have put in a lot of work and a lot of effort.

“It all comes down to minutes now. So we are at 810 minutes to go and these players will sacrifice everything they can to keep us in the form we are in.”

Bury’s recent run of good form, which has seen them claim 18 points from a possible 21, has been built on a rock-tight defence.

They have kept five clean sheets in the last seven matches, while four of their victories have been via a 1-0 scoreline.

“You don’t have to go and find a second when you are 1-0 up and you have got three points in the bag,” contested Flitcroft, who admits he would happily take another 1-0 win against Northampton.

“It was getting to a point (on Tuesday night) where it got scruffy in the second half, but I will take scruffy wins at this stage of the season.

“It is a case of making sure we are structurally very good and as a team they are showing a great resolve.

“Credit to York, they came at us with a real verve in the second half, but we withstood it and that’s what pleases me.

“As a group they are becoming leaders. They are taking ownership of what they are doing.

“They are a credit to the football club, they are a credit to themselves and with the sacrifices they are putting in they are getting their reward.”

Bury will have to continue their fine run of form without Nathan Cameron, their captain and defensive lynchpin, who is suspended for their next two games after picking up a 10th booking of the season on Tuesday.

Adam El-Abd will take his place in the starting line-up.

But while Flitcroft is confident the former Egypt international is a worthy replacement, he also highlighted the improving defensive displays of left-back Chris Hussey as a reason to be optimistic.

“Huss, for me, defensively, Tuesday night was his best performance in a Bury shirt,” he said.

“I thought he was absolutely outstanding. He is getting better and better as a defender.

“We know about Hussey’s quality and what he does on the ball with his crosses and his set pieces, but his defensive performance was incredible.”

It is understood top scorer Danny Nardiello will need another week to recover from a hamstring injury, while Danny Rose is out with a torn calf and goalkeeper Nick Pope is a slight doubt with a knee injury.