BURY boss David Flitcroft hopes yesterday’s battling victory at Northampton could provide the platform to get their promotion charge back on track.

The Shakers go into tomorrow’s match at home to Mansfield still in ninth place in League Two despite ending a nine-game winless streak at the Sixfields Stadium.

But after goals from Andrew Tutte, Tom Soares and Danny Mayor helped secure their first league victory since the start of November, the Shakers manager is hopeful they can soon bridge the three-point gap to the play-off places.

“It has been nice to be able to congratulate the team for hitting the 100 per cent mark,” he said.

“There were quite a few on show today who really stepped up to the plate.

“The energy levels were fantastic and that’s what you are delighted about when people are saying you are lacking confidence and lacking belief.

“This team don’t lack confidence or belief. It has been fine margins and certainly now this gives us a platform to kick on from here.”

Bury had to come from behind, though, to achieve their first away win since beating Carlisle at Brunton Park on September 13, and had to see out the match with 10 men after Bolton Wanderers loanee Hayden White was sent off for fighting.

Northampton captain Marc Richards put the Cobblers ahead after only five minutes, placing the ball past the dive of Rob Lainton and into the bottom corner from 12 yards after the ball fell at his feet following a Nathan Cameron block on Ivan Toney.

But Bury came storming back and after both Mayor and Hallam Hope missed good chances Tutte fired in an equaliser from 30 yards to claim his second goal in as many games.

Danny Nardiello limped off with a hamstring injury, but Bury kept up the pressure and Soares nodded in a second from a Tutte corner just before the break.

Mayor doubled their advantage on 57 minutes, rifling the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

But after White and Northampton forward Toney were sent off for fighting, the home side pulled a goal back through Chris Hackett straight from a corner.

David Flitcroft’s side were able to hang on though, riding their luck at times in the final 10 minutes, to go into tomorrow’s match at home to Mansfield just three points outside the play-off places.

The Bury boss added: “We know where we need to go, we know what we need to do, we know what work is in front of us and that’s the big thing.

“What I need to know is who can really come on that journey and who really wants to go on that journey. Again I have seen the lads show great character today.”

Flitcroft confirmed that Pablo Mills will miss tomorrow's game with a persistent groin injury that looks set to keep the centre-back on the sidelines for around eight weeks.

Defender Keil O'Brien is also out with a knee injury, while White will be missing for the next three matches if the club's intended appeal is not successful.

The Bury boss also confirmed that goalkeeper Shwan Jalal is struggling with an ankle ligament injury picked up in training, while frontman Nardiello is a major doubt after pulling up sharply with a hamstring injury yesterday.

BURY (4-4-2)

ROB LAINTON 6; HAYDEN WHITE 4, ADAM EL-ABD 6, NATHAN CAMERON 7, CHRIS HUSSEY 7; TOM SOARES 7, KELVIN ETUHU 7, ANDREW TUTTE 9, DANNY MAYOR 7; DANNY NARDIELLO 7, HALLAM HOPE 8.

Subs: Lowe 8 (for Nardiello 31), Jones 6 (Hope 67), Sedgwick (Mayor 90+3). Not used: McNulty, Adams, Rose, Burgess.

NORTHAMPTON (5-3-2)

Duke; Alfei, Tozer, Diamond, Robertson, Horwood; D'Ath, Murdoch, Carter; Toney, Richards.

Subs: Hackett (for Alfei 45) O'Toole (Murdoch 65), Mohamed (D’Ath 65). Not used: Langmead, Collins, Snedker, Byrom.

Referee: Michael Bull.

Attendance: 4,563 (302 visiting).