SOMETIMES games can be won and lost in the minds of players, before they even get out on the pitch.

And I wonder if Bury’s current bad run on the road is a mental block, more than anything else.

I think the Shakers have a fantastic squad of players that on their day can compete with any side in League One.

They have shown they can do that, but have just hit a bit of a dip in form and confidence of late.

Now I appreciate David Flitcroft last year found a solution to the problems his side encountered in November and December, so much so that they ended up bridging the gap to the automatic promotion places.

That was the challenge they faced last season.

What I believe is important now is not to design a side capable of making the play-offs but to create a squad that can consolidate at this level.

Bury have made the step up from League Two, but once the adrenalin of promotion has subsided and maybe that winning mentality they had on the road has slipped, they face a different set of challenges.

The manager has to assess which players in his squad he believes are capable of playing at this level long term.

But he should also resist the temptation to overcomplicate things.

If he can add a player like Joe Dodoo to the squad then great, sign him up.

Flitcroft has to make those additions without upsetting the spirit in the dressing room.

When the manager comes out in public to say he needs reinforcements, the players in his squad will automatically question if their place is under threat.

That can have a positive impact on their performance, but it can also unsettle the team.

As I said, I think Bury have a decent squad for this level. The players will maybe not be as consistent as you would hope, but you have to expect that at this level, that is why they are playing in League One and not the Championship or Premier League.

Instead of dropping those suffering a bad patch, why not show some faith in their ability?

Resist the temptation to chop and change after a dip in results and see if they can ride it out.

It is also fair to say that the sudden drop in results away from home has coincided with Rob Lainton’s injury.

An injury to a goalkeeper, especially one who was in such good form, can destabalise a team.

Find a solution to that problem and maybe everything else will fall into place.

Don’t miss Jamie Hoyland’s Marvellous People on Radio Lancashire between 1-2pm on Saturday.