Sky Bet League 2’s current top three have been battling it out for months, but Bury are on the charge and ready to get involved.
Since the turn of the year, the division has been led by the same three teams: Burton Albion, Shrewsbury Town, and Wycombe Wanderers. Only Newport County, for a week in January, were allowed in on the act, before the Exiles fell away.But after a mid-season wobble - they went five games without a win in the lead up to Christmas - Bury have found their feet again and are just four points off of third spot with eight games remaining.
Their form over the last 10 games is the best in the division, a period in which they’ve picked up 23 points and conceded just four goals.
Following a 1-0 defeat to Oxford United three weeks ago, David Flitcroft was keen not to dwell on the setback, urging his side to dust themselves down and go again and continue the momentum that they had been building.
Flitcroft’s words hit home. Three wins and two clean sheets have followed since - their last outing saw them come from a goal down with 10 men to beat Northampton Town 2-1 - and they face another stern test when fifth-placed Southend United come to town this weekend.
But Bury are showing their promotion pedigree at the right time and, all of a sudden, the trio above them might just have something to think about.
You can follow all the Sky Bet League 2 goal action this weekend through the division’s official Twitter feed - @SkyBetLeague2.