TONY CARSS believes Town will steer clear of trouble but in the build-up to Stockport's visit he warned: "It's results that count."

The 28-year-old midfield player is struggling to shake off a groin injury after hernia surgery but determined to help Town get the couple of wins they need for safety in League I.

Victory at home to the bottom side tomorrow (3.00) would be an ideal first step which, hopefully, would extend an eight-point gap to the drop zone.

"It's only natural for us to be looking over our shoulder when we've lost quite a lot of away games on the trot," said the former Oldham star, who has been under treatment most of this week.

"It makes this game against Stockport a very big one and we need to get the full three points tomorrow and then push on from there.

"The lads have talked about our situation in the dressing room and we know we are playing a lot better than the results are showing, but we are at the stage of the season now where it's the result that matters and not a lot else.

"So we've been working hard in training to make sure we've got that extra focus and extra concentration going into the Stockport game to make sure we get three points and, hopefully, we will get a better referee than last week!"

That closing comment is a pointed reference to the performance of Brian Curson in last week's 2-1 defeat at Chesterfield - Town's seventh away on the trot - when he sent-off Tom Clarke and Efe Sodje and awarded the home side two penalties which Shane Nicholson converted.

"There seem to be a lot of referees in the League who are causing such comments to be made," he added.

"People talk about ex-players becoming referees and I think it's absolutely crying out for it, because common sense never does seem to prevail."

On Town's miserable away run in 2005, Carss explained: "We always go into games believing we can win and I think we showed that again last week at Chesterfield when, in the first half, we were at them all the time and created a lot of chances.

"The crucial thing, especially away from home, is getting that first goal to quieten the crowd and the home side get a bit nervous, which gives you the chance to push on and maybe get more.

"Unfortunately, we don't seem to be getting that first goal and, last week, with the way things panned out, it made a big difference."

Carss admits he felt tired in the last 15 to 20 minutes at Saltergate and had a few aches and pains, although Town were playing with nine men in the closing stages.

"I'm getting there with my fitness and I'm enjoying being involved again," he explained.

"I thought we were in control last week and we had a few good chances in the first half with Boothy hitting the bar, and we were looking to push on in the second half.

"Early on, though, Tom (Clarke) has given away what was probably a penalty - but it was never, ever a sending off.

"The guy McMaster has had a touch and I was there clearing it. He would never even have got close enough to make a tackle let alone score from it.

"It was still touch and go whether it was a penalty because McMaster went up with his arm and popped it forward and I was a bit aggrieved with that, but when the ref pulled the red card out I don't think anyone could believe it.

"Even down to 10 men and a goal behind I still thought we were very much in the game, but the second penalty killed us.

Even then we had a few half chances in addition to David Mirfin's goal and I had a decent chance on my left foot 10 minutes from the end which was frustrating not to do better with.

"When we were playing with nine men and battling against them and the referee it would have been nice to have come away with a point, but it wasn't to be."

Carss added: "The important thing now is that we take the three points against Stockport and keep up what has been a good home run with three wins and a draw in the last four matches.

"We know we are playing well enough to win it; we've just got to make sure we do."

Stockport - Spencer, Dolan, Goodwin, A Williams, Raynes, Hurst, Briggs, Jackman, Feeney, Le Fondre, Horwood, Cutler, Barlow, Griffin, Allen, Armstrong.

Town - Rachubka, Holdsworth, Mirfin, N Clarke, Edwards, Collins, Ahmed, Carss, Brandon, Booth, Facey, Senior, Mendes, Schofield, Abbott, Brown, Yates, McCombe, Fowler, Lloyd, A Sodje.

Referee - Ray Olivier (W Midlands).