Ben Chenery is looking for his players to react after two recent defeats on the road.

The Ryman North side are in action at Aveley on Saturday after losing at Cheshunt (1-3) and AFC Hornchurch (2-3, having been 2-0 up).

Both defeats were blows for the Ram Meadow side in their pursuit of play-off glory.

But they still sit in seventh place, just a point off fifth-placed Bowers & Pitsea who currently hold that final play-off position. Saturday’s opponents Aveley are on the same points as Bury.

“Of course, I’m expecting a reaction from my team,” Chenery said.

“I’ve told them they need to feel comfortable, being uncomfortable. I’m looking at my players and I’m looking at now and next season.

“The defeat to Cheshunt was because we switched off too easily.

“We talked about the fact Cheshunt like to move the ball quickly and they score from one of their quickly-taken goal-kicks from their keeper.

“The players had been told what to do and what to expect and they didn’t’ do it. It annoyed me.”

If that caused Chenery angst, as Bury ended up losing at Cheshunt, then the manner of defeat at Hornchurch was almost criminal.

Cruising at 2-0 up with just 25 minutes to go, the Blues managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, as the home team stormed back to win 3-2.

“We were bossing it,” Chenery said.

“The first 65 minutes we are on the front foot throughout. They get one back and we collapse.

“When you concede like that, just go back to basics, that’s all we needed to do. We had a few words with the team afterwards.”

However, despite the defeats, Bury are still in the play-off hunt and Chenery knows it.

“It’s a crazy league,” he said.

“We’ve lost two games but haven’t lost so much ground on the play-off group. Aveley attack at pace and are a good side. It’s a similar test to Cheshunt and Hornchurch.”

After three successive away trips (it would have been four but last week’s game at Ware was postponed), Bury return home next Saturday (28th) when Norwich United are the visitors to Ram Meadow.