Player-coach Russell Short is confident rock-bottom Bury Town can get out of relegation trouble in the Ryman Premier this season, ahead of the Blues’ tough home clash with second-top Maidstone United, today.

The clash at Ram Meadow would have looked an extremely daunting one a few weeks ago, but since ending a run of seven straight defeats in the draw at VCD Athletic, the Blues have picked up a point at home to Leiston and recorded a superb 4-3 victory at Canvey Island on Thursday.

Bury are now six points behind Witham Town, the team occupying the immediate spot outside the relegation zone, although the Essex side do have six games in hand on the Blues.

Short admitted he rarely looks at the league table but insists manager Ben Chenery’s team have enough quality to get out of their predicament.

“The last three results, the least we have deserved is five points,” said Short, who is suspended for today’s game after being sent off for two bookable offences against VCD.

“Five points from nine is not a bad return and myself and Ben (Chenery) were always confident of turning things round.

“The team is more settled and we are confident going into the game. We put in our one of best away displays of the season at Maidstone and were unlucky to lose.”

The Blues, who recently added former Mildenhall Town boss Christian Appleford to the coaching ranks, have conceded eight goals in their last half-a-dozen games but compared to 42 in the previous 23, that is a big improvement.

That recent form will be heavily tested today, however, against a side that defeated League One Stevenage in this season’s FA Cup.

“We’ve become more resilient and harder to play against,” added Short.

“We were conceding a lot of goals and that wasn’t a good platform to stay in games.

“We also needed to score at the other end and we have brought Sandsy (John Sands) back.”

Sands has signed dual registration forms with the Blues and Vanarama South outfit Chelmsford City and scored against the club he recently departed, Canvey Island, for the Blues two days ago.

Short is delighted to see his former team-mate back at the club but also praised the club’s other two scorers in the aforementioned 4-3 victory, Connor Hall and former Ipswich Wanderers’ front-man, Remi Garrett.

“Sandsy is definitely a character in the dressing room and he knows where the goal is,” explained Short.

He added: “Connor (Hall) had a couple of good games and deserved his two goals against Canvey.

“Personally, I was delighted for Remi (Garrett) to score. A lot of his work goes unnoticed but the effort he puts in is massive.

“I said to him after the Canvey game I was proud of him. He has put in a lot of work over the last four games and it was great for him to get the winner.”

Short will take a watching brief today but has welcomed the arrival of Appleford.

“I am back playing more now, after a couple of injuries earlier in the season, during which time it was easier for me to coach,” he explained.

“Cheners (Ben Chenery) felt he needed someone else to come in (as coach), as it is difficult for me when I am playing. Christian is a fresh face and has good ideas.

“We all sing off the same hymn sheet and as a management team we are confident we’ll pull out of trouble.”