WARRINGTON Town boss Paul Carden says he is happy his side have points on the board as opposed to games in hand as the Evo-Stik Premier Division run-in approaches.

Yellows sit second having played 33 games, the same as leaders Altrincham and third-placed Ashton United.

They have all played three more games than Farsley Celtic, who are fifth, but Shaw Lane in fourth have four games in hand on Town and the rest of their rivals.

Shaw Lane would go above Yellows if they won all of their extra games, but Carden says that puts them under added pressure.

“We’re running out of weeks now. We’ll be playing Saturday-Tuesday more or less until the end of the season,” he said.

“If you’re getting games called off now, it’s at the stage where you’ll be playing two games in midweek.

“I’d sooner have the points on the board than the games in hand. I’d rather be sitting above teams rather than having opportunities to go above them.

“The pressure is on those who have games in hand to win every week. I’d rather be where we are.”

Town’s 0-0 draw at Stafford Rangers on Tuesday night made it four league games unbeaten for Carden’s side as they look to consolidate a place in the top three.

They have two home games this week, first welcoming play-off rivals Grantham Town to Cantilever Park on Saturday, kick off 3pm, before hosting Hednesford Town on Tuesday, kick off 7.45pm.

If they do not manage to overhaul Altrincham’s six-point lead and claim the league’s sole automatic promotion place, finishing second or third would guarantee Yellows a home play-off tie.

One player who may yet see more action in the run-in is young midfielder Jamie Davis, who made a cameo appearance off the bench during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Barwell.

Carden says Davis’ inclusion in the first-team squad is just reward for his efforts.

“Young Jamie Davis is in contention because he’s deserved it, purely and simply because of how he is in training,” he said.

“He trains unbelievably in every session. As a manager, there comes a time when you have to give him a chance.

“If he’s doing everything I ask of him but still isn’t getting a chance, what does that say about me?

“He deserves his opportunity and if he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’ll get more.”

Davis’ chance in the first team comes in part thanks to an injury to fellow midfielder Gerard Kinsella.

The 26-year-old suffered a back spasm in training last week and missed the Barwell and Stafford Rangers games.

However, Carden insists Kinsella’s injury is nothing serious.

“He could have been on the bench on Saturday, but we didn’t think there was much point in risking him,” he said.

“It would have been a case of him sitting cold on the bench, warming up every 10 minutes and then coming on while not at 100 per cent.

“There just seemed very little point to it, but it’s definitely not serious.”

Skipper Jay McCarten is still struggling with the ankle injury that has kept him out since the end of January, so Liam Goulding is set to keep the captain’s armband.