RESULTS continue to be the top priority for Bury after a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Cheltenham last Saturday kept them in the promotion chase.

But manager David Flitcroft admits he now has half an eye on his side’s goal tally after another big win for seventh-placed Plymouth kept the Shakers out of the play-off places on goal difference.

Bury’s recent upturn in form – losing just one of their last seven games – has been built on a steady defence, coinciding with the arrival of on-loan keeper Nick Pope.

He has conceded just five goals in those seven games, but the Shakers have only netted seven times in that period and missed an ideal chance to boost their goal difference on Saturday when they stormed into an early two-goal lead against the managerless Robins.

“We should have taken them apart, but didn’t do,” admitted Flitcroft, after Plymouth increased their goal difference to +15, compared to Bury's +7.

“I don’t think goal difference will be significant, but you never know. I have not got a crystal ball to look that far ahead.

“I know Plymouth have got a real positive goal difference.

“With Popey coming in we are a lot more difficult to score against and the structure of the team is good. Scoring goals is the last bit now.”

Flitcroft was given room for optimism on that score after 21-year-old striker Danny Rose netted what turned out to be the winner at Cheltenham, ending a run of 14 games without scoring.

“I am delighted for Rosey,” said the Bury boss, who had dropped Rose to the bench in recent weeks, claiming he was suffering from burn-out.

“He has deserved his goal over the last two games.

“With the shift he puts in and the way he works, at times 70 minutes of that high intensity, high octane work is about what you can get from Danny Rose.

“I felt today he had that extra 20 minutes in him, although you have see him twice go down with cramp – he covers every blade.

“But every striker needs goals. The best in the world need goals, it’s what makes them tick.”

After Saturday’s victory saw Cheltenham fall into the bottom two, Bury entertain basement club Hartlepool this weekend.

But while Flitcroft is eager to see his side boost their goal difference, he has warned fans not to expect Ronnie Moore’s relegation battlers to be a pushover.

“I have played against a Ronnie Moore team,” he said. “One thing you get from his sides they don’t lie down, they keep going and he will have them organised and functional so we are expecting one hell of a battle.”

Midfielder Joe Thompson will be unavailable for selection after agreeing a one-month loan move to Conference side Southport. Tom Soares (ankle) and Adam El-Abd (hamstring) face fitness tests, while Ryan Lowe and Pablo Mills remain sidelined with injuries.