The very popular Lee Slattery is just one round away from capturing just a second European Tour title after posting a four under par 67 to take a two shot lead into the last day of the M2M Russian Open.

If successful, it would see the 37-year old Englishman end a four-year and 132 tournament victory drought.

Slattery, whose only other Tour victory was in capturing the Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano hosted 2011 Bankia Madrid Masters, had double at the 11th hole to then birdie the 12th, 14th and final holes to move to 13-under par with Scotland’s Craig Lee and Argentina’s Estanislao Goya sharing second place on 11 under, with defending champion David Horsey a further stroke back.

Slattery, who began the day one shot behind overnight leader Bradley Dredge, made gains at the third and fifth holes to take a share of the lead at the turn.

England’s Lee Slattery and now just one round away from ending a four-year and 132 tournament winless drought. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)

And while it’s been over four years since his only European Tour victory toast, Slattery says he’s looking forward to the challenge of capturing a second success.

“It’s very similar to my last win actually, I had a two shot lead there on the final day.

“I remember losing the lead quite early but it pushed me on to play well again so it’s similar, similar feelings, and I’m just going to go out and enjoy it tomorrow.

“It’s the old cliché, take it one shot at a time – that’s what I’ll be doing tomorrow and I’m looking forward to it.

“I hit a really nice drive at 18, one of the best of the day, and then a three iron rescue which has been carrying all week. It’s been a great club for me this week, especially on a lot of the par threes that play long. It was a nice way to finish the round off.”

Lee grabbed five birdies in his round on his way to adding a 66 to the rounds of 67 and 69 he shot on Thursday and Friday respectively.

Lee said: “I’m delighted with five under. I certainly would have taken it before we went out.

“Obviously the weather has been tough for the morning groups and we got the lucky end of the draw. I had left my hotel when play had been suspended so I didn’t have to warm up in the rain but it’s been very testing.”

The Argentine was thrilled to be in the hunt heading into the final day. He said: “I’m very pleased, it’s a bogey free round again so I’m very happy about that.

“It was tougher definitely, it was wet and played longer. The wind changed a little bit at times and the ball wasn’t flying as much.

“I have a chance for tomorrow too so I’ll make the most of it. It’s the place I want to be, in the last group, to try to put some pressure on and hopefully I can have a good tournament.”

Horsey was pleased with his performance on day three. He said: “Saturday is moving day so it is always nice to make a move up the leaderboard.

“I played nicely out there and I’m very pleased with my position going into the final day.

“The delay was actually a bit of a blessing because it was hammering it down beforehand so that extra hour and a half helped me out a little bit and we hardly had any rain this afternoon.

“I’m playing nicely at the moment so I just have to stick to my game plan again tomorrow and see where I am coming down the stretch.”

Dredge slipped to nine under par after firing three birdies and four bogeys in his one over par 72.