Workington Reds boss Dave Hewson is valuing results over performances as his side chase a place in the Evo-Stik Premier Division play-offs.

Tomorrow’s opponents, Hednesford Town, are four places below Reds in the league table but Hewson is paying no mind to that, nor is he worried about his side’s ability to win ugly if that’s what it takes.

He said: “We’ve got enough experience now in this team to know that certain games will play out that way and you can’t play expansive, free-flowing football every week.

“Sometimes you have got to dig in and, at this stage of the season, results are more important than performances.

“Hednesford are a strong side, as every side is, and they beat us at home.

“They’ve got some very good players and are a nice, well-organised team.

“I don’t take into account their league position because for me, for a lot of teams, it’s false.

“We know we’re more than capable of getting something there.”

Conor Tinnion and Gari Rowntree are available after serving suspensions but striker Sam Joel is a doubt after suffering a knock during Tuesday night’s 1-0 win over Marine.

The in-form forward has four goals and two assists in eight games for Workington and the Reds boss said he would need to be assessed.

Hewson added: “There were a couple of niggles on Tuesday night but nothing too serious.

“The only potential doubt would be Sam Joel but we’ll see how he is.

“It’s a big boost for the lads to have those two back because they’re experienced and important players.”

Hewson said the aim over the final 10 league matches is to stay competitive, with Reds one point off the final play-offs place with a game in hand.

“It’s the same old cliché, we’ll take it one game at a time,” he said.

“We’ve seen the impact a victory can have on the table but we’ve also seen the impact a defeat can have.

“I think there are some ups and downs still to come but the most important thing is to stay within touching distance.

“It’s been difficult over recent weeks but when we analysed it and looked into the results, we’ve played games with 10 men and nine men, and another game with 10 men.

“We were playing like that for long periods of those games and that mentally and physically takes its toll on the players.”