PRESSURE is building on Bury manager David Flitcroft after his side extended their worst losing run in 15 years with a seventh straight defeat at Northampton.

Paul Anderson gave the Cobblers a first-half lead but Ben Williams kept his side in the game with a couple of fine saves before the break.

Marc Richards added a second for the Cobblers from the penalty spot and Matt Taylor made it 3-0 with a trademark free kick.

Bury launched a late fightback as 17-year-old George Miller scored his first goal for the club before Zeli Ismail reduced the deficit to one – but Northampton held out to heap the misery on the Shakers.

Flitcroft made two changes from Monday's defeat to Bolton.

Leon Barnett missed out with a hamstring injury and Ismail dropped to the bench.

Andrew Tutte and Tom Walker were handed their first league starts of the season, with the latter deployed just behind striker James Vaughan.

It took 10 minutes for the first chance to arrive but Williams was alert to save Anderson's low drive down to his right before Richards headed Taylor's pin-point cross over the bar.

Bury grew into the game with Danny Mayor the architect making a number of dazzling runs.

First, the winger laid the ball off to Neil Danns, whose stinging effort was kept was kept out by Adam Smith, before curling a shot wide himself.

The Cobblers began to take charge of the game and Sam Hoskins flicked a header over the crossbar before Jak McCourt thumped a volley wide from edge of box.

The opening goal arrived in the 37th minute when Anderson prodded Taylor's free-kick in from close range.

Three minutes later Hoskins bursts through one-on-one but Williams blocked with his legs before stopping JJ Hooper's effort on the line.

Northampton had their second of the game after Niall Maher fouled Hoskins in the box and Richards slammed the resulting spot kick home.

Taylor made it three in the 74th minute with a wonderful 30-yard free-kick.

Chants of "Flitcroft out" and "you're getting sacked in the morning" came from the disgruntled Bury supporters as they headed for the exit early.

The Shakers showed great character to pull one back three minutes later through Miller, who rose the highest to head Danns' cross home.

Ismail put the visitors to within touching distance with a strike eight minutes from time, but despite a late rally the hosts clung on to increase the pressure on the Shakers boss.