BURY boss David Flitcroft believes word of mouth is already having an impact on attendances at the JD Stadium after a third straight crowd of more than 4,000 was treated to a sixth home league win on the bounce.

And the home support was given plenty to cheer about as the Shakers put in their most impressive display of the season to comprehensively outclass Portsmouth and move up to second place in League Two.

Each of their three goals - from Danny Mayor, Ryan Lowe and Danny Rose - had a touch of class, while a fifth clean sheet of the season concluded a memorable day.

Now Flitcroft hopes the 3,700 Bury fans inside the ground will help spread the feel-good factor.

“There is a positivity on the pitch that I want to transfer back into the stands, and I think we are getting that,” he said.

“If that happens on the Saturday and goes out into the town then you hopefully build on that.

“Word of mouth is the best way to try to get people back into the stadium and it is certainly happening.”

Bury followed up crowds of 4,536 against Burton and 4,481 at home to Tranmere with another 4,259 on Saturday, with 552 travelling Pompey supporters adding to the figures.

The club did not record three back-to-back gates of 4,000-plus at any time during their last promotion year from League Two, in 2010-11, or during their two seasons in the third tier.

And the home fans are clearly feel they are be well rewarded, responding with standing ovations at the end of each half.

Mayor set the tone in the ninth minute, cutting in from the left to fire a right-footed shot in off the bar for an almost carbon copy of his two previous goals this campaign.

Lowe should have put Bury 2-0 up midway through the opening half, mis-kicking after Rose had put the ball on a plate for him at the near post.

But when the second goal came, on the stroke of half-time, it was a thing of beauty.

Centre-back Pablo Mills floated a long ball into the box for Nicky Adams, who back-peddled to scissor-kick a centre straight on to the head of Lowe for the striker glance home his his seventh of the season and move clear as the side's leading scorer.

The Shakers cantered their way through the second half, playing the match at their tempo and seemingly picking off Pompey at will.

They could, and probably should, have scored more, but Rose’s third was a fitting finale to the goal action.

Lowe found the run of his 20-year-old strike partner with a clever reverse pass from the byline that Rose stretched to tuck into the far corner.

Substitute Danny Nardiello came close to adding a fourth with a free-kick that went just wide and two late shots that Pompey keeper Paul Jones did well to smother.

But Flitcroft was more than happy with the tally of goals – at both ends – and hoped the vocal support echoed his sentiments.

“Without the fans there is no football club and when they come in I want them to enjoy it,” he added.

BURY: Lainton 7; Cameron 8, Mills 9, McNulty 8; Jones 8, Etuhu 9, Soares 7, Mayor 9 (Sedgwick 7 74; Adams 9; Lowe 9 (Tutte 7 64), Rose 9 (Nardiello 7 68). Not used: Jalal, Hussey, Platt, Holmes.

PORTSMOUTH: Jones; Ertl, Devera, Chorley; Wynter, Hollands, Atangana (Holmes 46), Butler; Wallace; Taylor, Drennan (Agyemang 62). Not used: Poke, Shorey, Westcarr, Awford, Close.

Goals: Bury 3 (Mayor 9, Lowe 44, Rose 61) Portsmouth 0.

Yellow cards: Bury – Etuhu 29. Portsmouth – Drennan 20, Devera 69, Wallace 80.

Referee: Robert Madley.

Attendance: 4,259 (552 visiting).

Star man: Nicky Adams – Ryan Lowe can think himself unlucky not to pick up the man-of-the-match Champagne after finishing the match with one goal and one assist, but there is no doubt Adams’ piece of skill to set up Bury’s second goal was the highlight of a high-quality display. The way he back-pedalled and took flight to volley a pass on to the head of Lowe had all fans in all four corners of the ground on their feet. It was a moment of real class in another all-action display from the attacking midfielder. Dubbed the Duracell Bunny for his energetic enthusiasm, manager David Flitcroft was also impressed by Adams’ maturity in possession as he showed a calm head to put his foot on the ball at times – something that had possibly been lacking in recent performances.