YORK City player-manager Chris Brass has called on key striker Andy Bishop to be firing on all cylinders for the visit of Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.

The 21-year-old former Walsall trainee struggled to find his form against Carlisle United in last Saturday's FA Cup qualifier but cannot afford to have another off day this weekend against the leaky Forest Green defence.

Rovers have scored just 11 goals all season but conceded a colossal 42 - an average of nearly three a game - giving them the undisputed worst record in the Conference. Only the point-deduction imposed on Northwich Victoria is keeping them off the bottom.

But, despite a leaner goals against tally, City have only managed two more league strikes than Rovers.

And highly-rated attacking talent Bishop should be looking at the tie as a prime opportunity to turn his potential into something more tangible, especially considering his poor show against Carlisle United which saw him squander two quality chances to equalise.

Brass said: "Andy Bishop was disappointed with the way he played on Saturday by the standards he set himself.

"He just didn't look fully at it. They've done marvellous Andy and David Stockdale to get in the Under-23 England 16, but you have to keep that level of consistency up.

"Andy is a key player for us and certainly when you've got a lot of youngsters on the pitch you need all your key players performing and he was just a little bit off the boil and the game broke down a little for him."

Brass also acknowledged that the lack of firepower from his team was proving the key difference in the tough Conference environment.

Furthermore, only six of the team's goals have come from the frontmen with four from acting captain Darren Dunning and three from his centre midfield partner Paul Groves.

He said: "On Saturday, the team started quite well but then we were sucker-punched for their first goal. I think they only had about four good opportunities in the first half and scored from three of them. We had about the same number in the first half but didn't score any.

"We're just that bit apart at the moment when it comes to finishing chances and that's why Barnet and Carlisle are at the top of the league and we're not."

Brass has admitted that he would be interested in bringing Jon Shaw back to Bootham Crescent in a bid to improve City's scoring options if the former loan striker is released by Sheffield Wednesday.

Shaw played eight games for the Minstermen last season and, although he failed to find the net, impressed Brass with his performances.

He is currently believed to be discussing a financial settlement that would release him from his Owls contract and Brass said: "He is somebody who would interest us."

Updated: 09:28 Thursday, November 04, 2004