BURY boss David Flitcroft is confident results away from the JD Stadium will improve in the second half of the season, despite the latest setback at Dagenham and Redbridge last weekend.

The Shakers’ dominated their London hosts but were hit by a sucker punch after missing a horde of chances, falling to their seventh defeat of the campaign on the road and fourth in their last five matches away from home.

But after bolstering his backline with the loan signings of goalkeeper Nick Pope and centre-back Adam El-Abd, the Bury manager believes his side have what it takes to pick up points up on their travels, starting with tonight’s trip to neighbours Accrington Stanley.

“We have not been good enough on the road but believe me it will change,” he said.

“We will pick up more points in the second half of this season on the road because there is a definite spirit about this football team, we just need that clinical edge.

“(At Accrington) we will try to do a similar thing we did at Dagenham – try to dominate the ball and dominate the possession, but be more clinical and ruthless.

“If we can get that then we will have a very good chance to win the football match.”

One thing the Bury boss is not concerned about is the conditions at the Crown Ground.

Last year’s scheduled encounter at Accrington was postponed just an hour before kick-off due to a waterlogged pitch.

But Flitcroft believes the club has made improvements this campaign.

“Accrington’s pitch is fantastic, it’s a lot better than our pitch at the minute,” he said.

While Bury’s form has been indifferent of late, with a three-match unbeaten run over the festive period following on from an eight-game winless streak, Accrington have shown steady improvement since former boss John Coleman returned to replace James Beattie.

They are in 13th place in League Two after two wins, two defeats and a draw in their last five matches, but are just two points behind Bury and three outside the play-offs.

That means both sides could potentially move into the top seven with a victory tonight, setting up what Flitcroft believes will be a stirring match under the lights.

“I like Friday night football, I think it gives a different ingredient to a Saturday afternoon so we will be certainly ready for that game,” said the Bury boss.

“We are going up against a good team with a very good manager.

“The fit is perfect for Coley and Accrington – they are in a good place.”