CONSISTENCY is the watchword for Bury boss David Flitcroft after admitting his side's performance got what it deserved in front of the Sky Sports cameras at Peterborough on Saturday.

After recording a maximum six wins throughout September, the Shakers have started October with three straight defeats – losses in League One at home to Scunthorpe and at Posh sandwiching a disappointing trip to Bradford in the Checkatrade Trophy.

But they remain well in touch in both competitions – second in their Trophy qualification group and third in League One.

And while Flitcroft accepts the levels have dropped following a number of suspensions and injuries to key players, he expects them to recover quickly from their sudden dip in form.

“We didn't deserve victory here today,” Flitcroft admitted after Saturday's 3-1 defeat.

“Peterborough deserved to win the football match and now we have got to find a solution to get the team back consistent and back winning football matches."

Former Shakers loanee Hayden White put Bury in front with an own goal, but they were unable to capitalise on that early gift.

Striker Tom Pope had to leave the pitch inside 10 minutes with what was later revealed as two broken ribs and a punctured lung.

Posh slowly gained the upper hand and equalised through midfielder Chris Forrester late in the first half before adding two more inside the hour mark through Marcus Maddison and an Antony Kay own goal, which ensured Bury fell five points behind league leaders Scunthorpe.

“It was the start we wanted, the start we talked about and the start we expected," added Flitcroft.

"We wanted to play with that purpose and it was the ideal start for us.

“Peterborough, to their credit, really stepped up to the plate and caused wave after wave of problems for us.

“The two goals after half time were just two poor goals in terms of how we have conceded them and from there it was very difficult to build a positive result.

“We have been patched up but I still expect them to be more competitive than they have been.”

Winger Zeli Ismail was the catalyst for the first goal when he beat his full-back down the right and drilled a low cross into the penalty area that full-back White turned into his own net as he attempted to clear.

Bury's bright start came to a halt when Pope was forced off and had to be replaced by Hallam Hope.

Peterborough came close to levelling in the 32nd minute when Shaquile Coulthirst headed against the post from six yards.

But seven minutes later the hosts grabbed the equaliser their play deserved. After a deep cross from the right, Forrester played an intricate one-two with Maddison before blasting past Ben Williams.

Posh carried their first-half momentum into the second period and took the lead three minutes after the restart when Maddison found space in the area and slotted home.

Four minutes later Tom Nichols chased a long cross-field pass and sent a hopeful cross into the Bury penalty which Kay unfortunately turned past Williams via the crossbar.

Bury struggled to break down the resolute Posh defence late on, and the defeat left Flitcroft wondering what could have been if Pope had not picked up his first-half injury.

“We will have to watch it back to see the impact of not having Popey on the pitch,” Flitcroft added.

“Some of the balls we were sending forwards kept coming back too quickly.

"We didn't seem to have that substance up front that we've benefited from with Popey in the side.

“We are a team that likes to get the ball into the striker and work off the strikers and get it out wide, but we just didn't feel we could do that without him.”

Flitcroft also felt his side missed the midfield duo of Tom Soares and Jacob Mellis, who both served one-match suspensions after totting up five yellow cards.

“They were in a rhythm and have played 13 or 14 games this season where (their replacements – Neil) Danns and Kelvin (Etuhu) have not, so it was a makeshift midfield and it felt like that,” added the Bury boss.

“If your two midfield players are not really operating at the level you want them to then it has an impact on what Zeli and Danny (Mayor) can do out wide.

“It has been a difficult afternoon but the positive is that we'll have Tom Soares and Jacob Mellis back for next week. Peterborough dominated the pitch in central midfield and that's where they won it for me.”

Match ratings

Bury (4-4-2): Williams 5; Etuhu 5, Maher 5, Kay 5, Leigh 5; Ismail 6, Bryan 5, Danns 5 (Walker 60, 6), Mayor 5; Pope 6 (Hope 9, 5), Vaughan 5. Not used: Rachubka, Bedeau, Burgess, Dudley.

Peterborough (4-1-2-1-2): McGee; White, Trafazolli, Baldwin, Hughes; Forrester (Chettle 80); Edwards, Lopes; Maddison (Moncur 73); Coulthirst, Nichols (Taylor 86). Not used: Tyler, Bostwick, Oduwa, Moore.

Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland).

Attendance: 3,964 (190 visiting).