BURY boss David Flitcroft has held talks with chairman Stewart Day regarding his side's poor run of results.

The Shakers suffered their seventh straight league defeat on Saturday, going down 4-1 at home to Southend United.

Since the dip in form began at the start of October with a defeat to League One leaders Scunthorpe, Bury have slipped from second in the table to 16th, just three points outside the relegation zone.

Home supporters booed the team off after Saturday's match, and Flitcroft says he understands those concerns.

“I spoke with the chairman last week,” the Bury boss said. “We set a strategy to look forward and not look at October's results and we will keep looking towards the future.

“I have said it time and time again, when I came here I wanted to be here for the long term.

"I want it to be a long-term project and we will keep giving our best and keep giving it what we have got.

“I understand the fans booing and I understand the fans' frustration. It's not good enough. I'm the man at the helm to make it a different experience for the supporters.

“I've always said supporters come into the football ground to enjoy watching their team compete and it's my job to make that happen.”

Former Premier League strikers Nile Ranger and Simox Cox proved the difference for Southend, who went 2-0 up inside 13 minutes.

James Vaughan pulled one back from the penalty spot seven minutes later after Hallam Hope was brought down by Ben Coker.

The Shakers recovered from a dreadful start and controlled possession without finding an equaliser.

However, it was the visitors who were more clinical with possession as Ranger netted his second of the game and Stephen McLaughlin wrapped up the win with a magnificent 30-yard strike that gave Shakers keeper Ben Williams no chance.

Bury have now failed to keep a clean sheet in their past 18 games, and it was the defending again which Flitcroft was most disappointed with.

“The goals we conceded were very disappointing and not what I expect,” he said. “We kept trying to create chances and we did but we looked wide open doing it.

“I'm disappointed with the way we defended our half of the pitch and four goals is disappointing at home.

“I'm gutted. I think we have caught Nile Ranger and Simon Cox on an incredible day. They were clinical.”

Match ratings

Bury (4-4-2): Williams 4; Danns 4, Barnett 4, Kay 4, Leigh 4; Tutte 5 (Walker 45, 6), Mellis 6 (G Miller 68, 6), Soares 6, Mayor 6; Hope 6, Vaughan 6.

Not used: Rachubka, Bedeau, Maher, Burgess, Dudley.

Southend United (4-4-2): Oxley; White (O'Neil 36), Thompson (Sokolik 79), Ferdinand, Coker; Atkinson, Leonard, Timlin, McLaughlin; Ranger (Fortune 81), Cox.

Not used: Smith, Bridge, Kings, McGlashan.

Referee: Richard Clark (Northumberland).

Attendance: 3,033 (253 visiting).