SHAKERS boss Andy Preece has warned Bury fans they must get off his players' backs if they want a quick return to Division Two.

Home supporters were left frustrated after an 81st minute equaliser crushed hopes of a victory over league leaders Hartlepool United on Saturday.

Such slips could prove costly when Bury's promotion bid draws to a close in May.

And Preece claimed the late defensive lapse could be put down to the verbal abuse from the stands, which threatens to plague their season.

Bury's small attendances make turning Gigg Lane into a fortress a pipe dream.

But Preece claims a noisier home support could lift his young squad to claim those extra few crucial points.

"I thought we were fantastic for the first hour of the game and playing some really good football. But we just need a little bit more support off the crowd," he said.

"We were beating the leaders for most of the game but the crowd seemed more intent on moaning and getting on our backs than cheering us on. That disappointed me."

"Okay, so we couldn't get the ball down and play as much in the second half but that's when you really need the crowd behind you to carry you through the latter stages.

"We have to get a bigger atmosphere, especially in the last 10-15 minutes, to get the lads going. We performed really well on Saturday but I just felt that, to win the match, we needed that 12th man on the pitch."