Next Up: York City Away

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if you fail to register a meaningful shot on goal if you get the opposition to score the only goal of the game for you, and it is in buoyant mood therefore that City head off on their travels on Saturday hoping to register their fifth successive away win. Paul Tisdale will be forced into at least one change as Jamie Cureton bought himself a couple of weeks off with a silly dismissal at Wycombe. Tisdale may opt to be a bit more conservative up at York by filling the gap with an extra midfielder – likely the fit again Tom Doherty, while Guillem Bauza could step up to the bench.

York, under the management of ex-Tamworth boss Gary Mills, have made a decent fist of their return to their rightful home in the Football League, currently sitting in 14th place in a congested table. That they are not higher is probably down to too many draws – ten so far – and they had a very similar Christmas / New Year record to City with a defeat on Boxing Day followed by a draw on the Saturday and a win on New Years Day. Like City they have suffered somewhat with their home form, although they have now won their last two home fixtures scoring seven goals in the process, so City will need to be on their guard if they are to continue their impressive away form. The main goal threat is likely to come from either Ashley Chambers (eight goals this season) or Jason Walker (seven), while City supporters will no doubt hope the ever-popular Jon Challinor gets some pitch time – the ex-City midfielder, now used more as a full-back, has been used mainly from the bench this season.

The reverse fixture saw the sides draw 1-1, Michael Coulson opening the scoring for York before John O’Flynn netted a late equaliser. The last time City visited Bootham Crescent (another grand old ground on its last legs with a new stadium having been announced), the Setanta cameras were treated to a thrilling 3-2 win for the home side – Woolford, Parslow and Sodje for York, Basham and Logan for City. That said, City have had a reasonable record at York in recent times, including four successive wins around the turn of the century, and it is the Grecians who hold the overall lead in head-to-heads, 21 wins to York’s 17 (7 draws).

The referee and his assistants were announced on Exeweb earlier in the week.http://www.exeweb.com/2012/12/31/match-day-officials-for-york-away/

Travelling to York? Here is our unique guide to travel, pubs and the ground.http://www.exeweb.com/2012/08/16/the-things-you-need-to-know-bootham-crescent/