SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown is expecting a ‘feisty six pointer’ at Gigg Lane tomorrow.

Blues head to Bury looking to strengthen their push for the play-offs.

But Brown is expecting a difficult test against the in-form Shakers and their on loan goalkeeper Nick Pope who has kept six clean sheets in his last nine games.

“Bury will be really tough opponents because they are on a hell of a run at the moment,” said the Shrimpers boss.

“We’ve been looking at the upturn in their form, you wonder why it’s happened and maybe it has something to do with their goalkeeper.

“He’s on loan from Charlton and he’s a force to be reckoned with at this level.

“He proved that with York last season when he kept something like 20 clean sheets and he’s doing well for Bury now too.

“But this is a feisty six pointer in my eyes and we need the win to stay on the coat-tails of the top three and to also climb above Bury in the play-offs.”

The Shrimpers will also be looking to get back on track after picking up just one point in their last two games.

And Brown is keen to enjoy a strong end to the season.

“We’re still 10 points ahead of where we were at this stage last season but last year we had one hell of a finish and we need to make sure that can happen again,” he added.