Bury FC is preparing for a final push to secure the league title, with Anthony Johnson urging his team to stay focused. The Shakers’ destiny is in their own hands going into the final day, thanks to six wins from their last seven games.
Avro, however, remain in contention for the top spot, sitting two points behind. They are set to host Darlaston Town.
Johnson Focuses on Players, Not Pressure
Johnson wants his Bury side to play with freedom despite the pressure of the game at the Dreams2Reality Stadium. He says that he has been in this position a lot of times.
“Every bit of credit goes to the players because the pressure that those lads are under every single game, especially at home, the expectation from the supporters, and rightly so, is that we win every game and play in a manner that excites the supporters,” Johnson told The Bury Times.
According to Johnson, the pressure is on the players, not him. He sees his job as trying to alleviate that pressure. He also praised the supporters, who have stuck behind the team through the difficult moments.
“We’ve got a fantastic group and, for me, it’s about playing free and not stiffening up when you’ve got big moments happening,” Johnson added.
Shakers’ Mentality Key to Success
Johnson hailed the “mentality” of his squad for finding ways to keep winning throughout the run-in, even when they have faced setbacks. He believes this mentality comes from sustained effort over time.
More than 7,000 turned out at Gigg Lane last weekend. The crowd will be dominated by Shakers once again despite being away from home against Colls.
“I think that (mentality) comes from a body of work over a period of time,” he added. “I’ve said it numerous times now in interviews, I think we’re a very good chasing team.
“No, I don’t want to be 1-0 behind in games. But I think if we go 1-0 behind, it really lifts us and once we get into that mode, it’s very difficult to stop.
“Once you get that momentum behind you, the resilience that we’ve got will always come through anyway.”
Title Scenarios for Final Day
A win would guarantee the title for the Shakers. If they draw, Avro would need to win by seven goals to match Bury’s goal difference.