SELFLESS striker Tom Pope says he is prepared to sacrifice his own goal tally to help Bury get back to winning ways at Coventry City on Saturday.

The 30-year-old front man has netted six times since joining from Port Vale in the summer but has also proved a useful supply line for top scorer Leon Clarke.

Pope’s physical style makes him a real handful for defenders, and he explains that while he loves scoring goals he is more than happy to become the provider if it helps Bury end a run of just two wins in their last 10 league games.

“I don’t mind [playing a physical game], it’s something that I have done most of my career,” he said.

“I scored a load of goals at Port Vale when I played on my own up top.

“Now I’m a bit more involved in the build-up, taking the hits for the team and sending the ball wide.

“Sometimes crosses will come back into the box and I’m unable to get on the end of them because I’m involved in the build-up. It affects your goal count but I think for the team I have been doing okay.

“I have been holding the ball up well and taking a lot of the pressure off the defence.

“I’m a team player but you only want to be doing that if you’re winning games and at the minute we’re struggling.

“You want to score the goals that help us win games, but at the same time you want to try to help your midfield out by showing for the ball and giving an option up there.”

Pope is also adamant that Bury are prepared to ditch their footballing principles to win ugly at Coventry.

The Shakers have dropped from play-off contenders to 15th place in the League One table during their recent bad run.

And they come up against another side in poor form this weekend with the Sky Blues searching for their first win in six games, although they do still occupy a play-off spot.

Pope, who is currently enjoying his longest run in the side since August, insists his team are willing to stretch the boundaries to grind out a much-needed result.

“It is all about winning games of football, whether it’s ugly or dirty,” he said.

“You have just got to do your best to try to turn it around and everybody is on the same page.

“We know we have got a great dressing room but for one reason or another we have been struggling. I think when you’re going through a bad time, your confidence can drain from you.

“You probably don’t get the ball down and play as much as you want to because you’re feeling the pressure of losing.

“It’s just about trying to get our confidence back and the gaffer is helping by keeping us upbeat.

“Everybody is putting a shift in, so hopefully it will turn around.”