IT seems unthinkable now but when Bury were thumped 5-0 at today’s opponents Shrewsbury 12 months ago they could not buy a win away from home.

The Shakers had stormed to the top of the League Two table on the back of some sterling home performances.

Yet they were decidedly shaky on their travels and went to Greenhous Meadow on the back of defeats at Exeter and Wimbledon.

The weight of the defeat to Micky Mellon’s fellow promotion chasers still came as a seismic shock and after a brief rally David Flitcroft’s men went on a woeful run of eight games without a win, including another three losses on their travels.

Fast forward a year and Bury again travel to Shrewsbury on the back of another away defeat.

But Tuesday night’s 2-1 loss at Bradford was the Shakers' first on the road in 18 matches.

That record-breaking run stretched back to January and provided Bury with the foundation to earn promotion and storm into the League One play-off places this campaign.

“After the 10 months we’ve had, beating everyone and no-one being able to beat us, do you think I’ve got fragility away from home in my mind?” asked Flitcroft, after his side’s midweek disappointment at the Coral Windows Stadium.

Bury’s promotion campaign last season was kick-started by a Boxing Day win at Northampton and they have only lost three times on the road since then.

“It’s progression. It’s work on the training ground, it’s work every single day, it’s work that you guys don’t see and people out there don’t see,” added the Bury boss, confident his players have the mental toughness to brush of the Bradford defeat.

“It’s endless amounts of work, and that’s what we do.

“You get your reward for it and we’ve just had 10 months on the road of fantastic (results).

“It had to come to an end, but now we’ve got to strip it down and start focusing on the next batch of games.”

Flitcroft may not have any worries about picking up his players but he does face a selection headache.

Left-back Chris Hussey missed the Bradford defeat with a calf strain and his replacement, Danny Pugh, was forced off with a stomach muscle injury.

Teenaged defender Matty Foulds would be the natural choice to step up, but he is being chased by Everton and Derby and the hierarchy are reluctant to play the 17-year-old and risk any potential transfer.

Another defensive option, Keil O’Brien, this week agreed a three-month loan move to Halifax Town.

The 23-year-old centre back has suffered a series of injury setbacks since signing from Chorley in June 2014. His only appearance came last November and while O'Brien has been back in full training for a number of weeks, Flitcroft wants to ease him back in gently.

"This loan will give Keil a fantastic opportunity to have a run of consecutive games,” said the Bury boss.

"He has worked extremely hard to get his fitness levels back up.

“But with the length of time out we all felt that League One football would be too intense for him. This is the next step for him as he needs gradual progress.”

Meanwhile, on-loan Lee Erwin looks set to return to Leeds United after manager Steve Evans indicated he wants to run the rule over the forward after his 28-day loan finishes in two weeks' time.