GARETH Ainsworth stopped short of saying Wanderers are in a relegation battle but acknowledged the size of the task he has on his hands to turn the season around.

Blues have plummeted to within three points of the trapdoor after a run of just one win from their last 15 matches and they face another critical game tomorrow.

Bury are one of only three teams below Wycombe in the table and a Wanderers win would go a long way to relieving the pressure mounting on Ainsworth.

The Blues boss is content with the performance of his players since clear-the-air talks after the dreadful 3-0 home defeat by AFC Wimbledon, but since then Wanderers have only picked up two points from four games.

And he's acutely aware of the significance of tomorrow's trip to Gigg Lane, saying: "It's a game we need to go out and win. They are a team around us in the bottom half of the table. It will be big to get a result there."

Asked if Wanderers are in a relegation scrap, Ainsworth said: "There's a lot of games to go so it's difficult to say. I think we have to be realistic and address we are at the bottom end of the table and we are in the 20s positions, which isn't good. We want to be well out of that.

"We have to keep that in mind and I'd be stupid to ignore it and think it's crept up on me late in the season. It's definitely something we've got to address and I'll be doing all I can.

"It'll be important to put in another performance similar to what we've put in in the last two or three games. I'm sure that will be good enough. Soon things will change and things will start going for us. It's up to me to keep those performances consistent, because the results will come. It's not far away and hopefully it can start on Saturday.

"It's not a concern because the performances are there. If they were going out and playing really badly then I've got a worry, but they are going out and playing well. Soon it will turn and we'll go on a good run."

Bury started Wanderers' run of bad form with a 2-1 win at Adams Park in October and they've been busy on and off the field since then.

David Flitcroft has replaced Ronnie Jepson as manager and he's released seven players and signed eight in the January transfer window.

The latest of those is the permanent addition of striker Daniel Nardiello, who netted three goals in two games against Wanderers as a Rotherham player last season.

Ainsworth said: "This game will be about recovery from Tuesday. Saturday was a big trip and a heavy pitch and straight away we've got a game on Tuesday. It was visible a couple of players were just below their normal energy levels. We've got to be careful we're on it on Saturday and everyone's recovered ready for the game."

Referring to the previous game between the sides the Blues boss added: "Hopefully we can return the favour and beat them away from home and come back with the points."