Stevenage face 2nd place Bury at the Lamex Stadium on Saturday 9th March...
- Form:
Ryan Lowe's side are THE form team in the division, with the best record over the past 8 games, 10 games and 12 games.
However, the Shakers had the chance to move top of the table on Tuesday night but their point at Cheltenham wasn't enough and may be seen as a missed opportunity.
Despite that, their last defeat came away at Mansfield on Boxing Day - 13 games ago - making this their best run this season. It has also been six away games since tasting defeat.
- Squad Health:
Bury have an almost clean bill of health, with only Jermaine Beckford known to be definitely out, after suffering a season-ending knee injury earlier in the campaign.
- Top Performers:
Such has been their superb season, Bury have a whole host of top performers in their side to choose from. Nicky Maynard, Jay O'Shea and Danny Mayor have been the three main headline-grabbers so far this campaign.
Both Nicky Maynard (17) and Jay O'Shea (15) are in the top five League Two goalscorers this season whilst Danny Mayor's creativity from a deeper position has seen him score seven goals and make eight assists.
Although not high in the goalscoring charts and not in our top three performers, experienced winger Nicky Adams has laid on a league-high 12 assists this season.
- Key Stats:
Bury have the fourth best away record in the division, with seven wins, five defeats and six losses.
Bury have scored more goals (70) than any other team in Sky Bet League Two this season.
Both teams have scored in 67% of Bury's away games this season and of the nine times that their opponents have taken the lead on the road, Bury have come back to score an equaliser on three occasions.
Converesely, Bury have taken the lead 12 times away from home and have conceded an equaliser on five occasions.
- Journalist’s View, with Mike Minay of BBC Radio Manchester:
Who could be Bury’s key player on Saturday?
"The key to a lot of Buy’s success this season has come from their midfield – but it’s difficult to pick just one man. Jay O’Shea is scoring the goals, Danny Mayor has the trickery from the left, while Jordan Rossiter was described to me as the defensive midfielder they’ve been ‘crying out for’ this season. The regularity of the five-man midfield helps cover the defence when necessary but provide the armoury up top too. In fact, a lot of Bury’s free-scoring players are enjoying their best seasons to date."
What do Stevenage have to do to beat Bury?
"In winning they’ll be doing something that no side in the league has done in 2019 – and we’re in March. Cheltenham managed to get a draw on Tuesday night but got lucky in the second half – they sat back, defended well, but really shouldn’t have come out of that with a point. With the wind and the rain sweeping in, maybe that had a part to play. The key is shutting out that midfield, Bury like their width, utilising MacFadzean and Adams on the left and right, but that doesn’t mean you lose focus in the middle of the park because the other three will punish you."
What do Bury have to do to beat Stevenage?
"I was at the reverse fixture and seem to recall in the first half it was a close game, but Bury – as they have the ability to do – switched it on in the second half and scored some wonderful goals. A quick start is always favoured and if they get the early goal, I expect them to motor on again."
Result Prediction?
"I think Bury will continue their form and sneak through with a 2-1 away win."
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