York City will be chasing a first away win this season when travelling to Mansfield Town on Tuesday evening. The Minstermen’s form on their travels has so far been patchy at best, with only three points taken from a possible twelve following draws at Grimsby Town, Bath City and Wrexham, allied to a dreadful performance in their defeat at Fleetwood Town. By contrast York are starting to get it right at home with three successive victories recently lifting them into a comfortable mid-table position. But manager Martin Foyle has said that his side really need to start picking up a few maximum points hauls on the road if they are to begin to once again scale the heights of last season.
Vital Quotes:
“It is not going to be easy. We all know York are a good side,” Mansfield’s former York defender Chris Smith told the Nottingham Evening Post. “We didn’t seem to have much luck at Newport, but hopefully our luck will change in the games to come – that is what you hope. Maybe our strikers might hit a shot that hits four defenders before going in. We were all a bit down after the game and words were said in the dressing room, not by the gaffer, but between the players. But they were positive words and sometimes you need that to move forward.”
“We need to be more ruthless away from home and get stuck in more,” York boss Martin Foyle told The Press. “We`ve conceded early goals and just need to be a bit uglier. Playing 4-4-2 would probably be a 100 per cent easier if we had Levi Mackin and Chris Carruthers fit but all the players still know their roles. Peter Till is doing very well but we just need Neil Barrett and Alex Lawless to be a bit more defensive minded in the middle, which comes more naturally to Levi.”
Mansfield Town Team News:
Mansfield will be without former Huddersfield Town and Blackpool striker Keigan Parker after he was sent-off against Newport County at the weekend. Midfielders Steven Istead and Kyle Nix are both rated doubtful after suffering knocks in the same game, although striker Luke Medley could return following a recent shin injury. He was replaced in the defeat at Newport by ex-York winger Adam Smith, while another former Bootham Crescent man, Chris Smith, featured in central defence.
Mansfield Town (probable): Marriott, Silk, Foster, C. Smith, Sandwith, Briscoe, Thompson, Mills, A. Smith, Connor, Duffy
Player to watch: Paul Connor
Experienced forward with a keen eye for goal as particularly shown during previous spells with Rochdale and Swansea City. Has scored four goals already for the Stags since arriving in the summer.
York City Team News:
Michael Gash could be recalled after coming off the bench to inspire his side to a 2-0 victory over Hayes & Yeading at the weekend. Martin Foyle’s switch to a 4-3-3 formation proved crucial and he may be tempted to continue with that approach at Field Mill. Levi Mackin, Chris Carruthers, Djoumin Sangare and George Purcell remain sidelined. But new left-back Jamal Fyfield has recovered from a dead leg and makes the trip.
York City (possible): Ingham, Courtney, Parslow, McGurk, Meredith, Till, Lawless, Barrett, Gash, Rankine, Constantine
subs (from): Knight, Young, McDermott, J. Smith, Racchi, Fyfield
Player to watch: James Meredith
Outstanding prospect for York and could actually find himself up against former team-mate Adam Smith should he exchange flanks during the game.
Match Facts & Stats
York have won once and lost once in three Conference visitors to Field Mill. Last season Courtney Pitt scored the only goal of the contest as the visitors claimed all three points. In Football League terms, York have won nine and drawn six times in 34 visits.
Next Fixtures:
Mansfield – Eastbourne (H); York – Tamworth (A)
