DRAWS, not defeats, are what could send Bury down this season, according to left-back Joe Skarz.

The ever-present defender believes the 12 points picked up through stalemates are the big difference between this season and last, when Bury only drew 11 matches all campaign.

“Last year we seemed to either win or lose,” said Skarz.

“This time last season we’d only lost two fewer games than we have now.

“But we’ve only won six games – we’ve drawn too many games I think.

“We’ve drawn games where we should have won by three or four. That’s where we’ve let ourselves down.

“Overall, we’ve just not been able to get a four-game winning run.

“That’s what kept us up (last season).”

Bury finished in 14th place last season, on 56 points.

They won 15, drew 12 and lost 20, scoring 60 goals in the process.

This campaign they have won just six, drawn 11 and lost 17, with 11 games of the season remaining.

The big difference has been in front of goal, with Bury only finding the net 33 times in 35 matches so far, eight of which have come from midfielder Steven Schumacher.

“We’ve not scored enough goals, and when we do go behind we seem to struggle,” said Skarz.

“We’ve only won three games at home all season – against the bottom two and Doncaster – and that’s not good enough if you want to stay in this league.

“We’re third bottom, and after 35 games the table doesn’t lie. We deserve to be where we are.”