RESULTS have been frightening for Bury recently, but boss David Flitcroft is hoping to “bury the ghost” with a trip to Northampton over the Halloween weekend.

The Shakers are going through their worst run of results since Flitcroft took charge of the club almost three years ago.

Six straight defeats, including losses to local rivals Oldham, Rochdale and Bolton, has seen his side slip from second to 11th in the League One table.

Despite this, Bury remain only three points off a play-off place and a win against the Cobblers – who have not won any of the last eight meetings with the Shakers– could put an end to the October scare-fest.

“We just need to get that one win and bury this ghost that we have got at the minute,” Flitcroft said. “I'm sure we will do that.

“At times that's what the players feel (doom and gloom) and that's what the staff feel. It's my job to protect them from that and make sure we try and drive towards where we want to be this season and try to aim for them play-off spots.”

Flitcroft will be having to mask the cracks as he dresses up his side, who could be without Leon Barnett and new signing Ishmael Miller, who are both struggling to overcome hamstring injuries.

But he'll be hoping his patch-work will treat, and not trick, those supporters making the 138-mile trip South.

“We are lacking the numbers” Flitcroft admitted. “When we are making changes it is not as robust as it was at the start of the season, in terms of the 20 that we had available.

“They are working hard, committing to what we are trying to do and I think Popey (Tom Pope) would be a big miss in any team.

“We have not had Leon Barnett for seven games, Joner (Craig Jones) has been a big miss – they are big players

“It was probably five or six days too soon for Leon Barnett (against Bolton). I needed him desperately for this game and he has come through it to a certain level. We got him off as a precaution so we'll see tomorrow where that's at.

“Ishmael Miller trained and just overloaded him hamstring a little bit so we have not been able to involve him. Hopefully it's not an excessive one so we'll know more on Friday about that.”