KELVIN Etuhu has his eyes on the prize ahead of this weekend’s crunch clash with Southend United.

The Shakers are just nine points off the top spot in League Two after a sensational run of six wins in seven – and while promotion is still the aim, midfielder Etuhu sees no reason why David Flitcroft’s side cannot go all the way to the title.

“Is it possible – I say it is,” he told The Bury Times. “There are still eight games to go and anything can happen.

“Anybody is still catchable, you have seen over the years that teams drop points over the run-in, then fall out of the automatic promotion places. So we’re just going to keep going and see where we end up.”

The club have offered fans a chance to buy tickets to three of the next four home games – Southend, Morecambe and AFC Wimbledon - for just £30 in an effort to ramp up the atmosphere in the run-in.

And Flitcroft is desperate for the Shakers to show a united front at home after voicing concern at grumbles in the crowd during last weekend’s late, late win against Northampton Town.

“If people want to moan, just stay at home and moan, I don’t believe that you pay your money to moan,” said Flitcroft, after Adam El-Abd’s stoppage-time winner moved them to within four points of third-placed Wycombe Wanderers.

“Pay your money to support the people we are bringing in to this football club.

“We had won six out of seven before the game, so to get booed off at half time I think is a shambles.”

While Flitcroft’s words have been viewed as rather confrontational, the manager qualified his comments by saying they were intended to protect young striker Tom Eaves against a small minority who were criticising his performance on home debut.

“To get 67 points from the games we have played, the season’s work for this group of players has been fantastic already,” he added. “We are improving daily and yet get booed off at half time.

“I care too much for this football club, for my players and my chairman to ignore what I am hearing.”

The Shakers come up against a Southend side who have won just once in their last five outings this weekend, without suspended right-back Joe Riley.

Craig Jones is likely to come in as cover for the next three games, while Marcus Poscha could be called up from the Under-18s as Jim McNulty is struggling to shake off a hip injury.