CHRIS Brass has called on his players to overcome any Bootham Crescent nerves as York City aim to avoid equalling an unwanted home record on Saturday afternoon.

Defeat against Torquay would mean the Minstermen will have lost five consecutive home games for only the third time in the club's history after failing to take any points from this year's matches against near neighbours Huddersfield, Mansfield, Lincoln and Hull.

Certain sections of the City crowd booed their side off the pitch at half-time with the home team trailing 2-0 to Scunthorpe.

Brass understands the supporters' disappointment and has told his young players they must accept and then rise above the criticism.

City's player-boss said: "The crowd will vent their frustration and rightly so. You do not want that affecting the youngsters and I think perhaps towards the end of Tuesday's match one or two of them got a bit nervous but that's football. It happens.

"You may have 40 or 50 thousand people screaming and shouting at you but you have to rise above it if you want to get on in the game. You accept the plaudits in football but also the criticism when it comes at times. We have to make sure we entertain our fans."

Brass also wants his players to rediscover the form that saw them draw 1-1 at Torquay in December when the Minstermen were unlucky not to take all three points.

Torquay have since stormed into automatic promotion contention with eight wins from their last nine games but Brass said: "We did extremely well down there and should have got three points because we were unfortunate with a penalty decision against Jon Shaw. Leroy Rosenior (Torquay's manager) said we played them off the park and were the only team to do that this season."

Richard Hope, who has missed the last two games with a thigh strain, will return to City's defence, which has shipped seven goals in the two games since Brass' four-match suspension.

The former Northampton defender is set to play in Brass' usual position in the centre of the back three with Chris Smith and Leigh Wood both failing to impress their manager in that role against Kidderminster and Scunthorpe respectively.

Brass said: "Richard has come through training with no adverse reaction which is pleasing because we need his experience around to help the kids. Only Mark Ovendale was aged over 23 from the players that finished Tuesday night's game.

"The kids are great talents but it's difficult for them and the experienced men need to step forward and carry them through."

Brass believes Richard Cooper, 24, is one of the club's senior pros who has provided an example for his younger team-mates during the last two difficult games.

"Richard gets his head down and gets on with it," Brass said. "He knows what his qualities are and what he has to work on.

"He's a model professional really, who gets stuck in and has fighting qualities. He's improved slightly this season and will continue to improve if he maintains the same attitude.

"He's someone that the youngsters have looked up to because of his fighting qualities even though he isn't old himself."

Non-contract signing Andy Bell is also poised to make his full home debut for City after scoring his first goal against Scunthorpe on Tuesday night and impressing again in the 2-0 North Riding Senior Cup defeat at Scarborough 24 hours later.

Brass said: "Andy did well and worked hard again at Scarborough. I do not know whether he will get 90 minutes but he's caught the eye.

"He's positive and very direct and will have to keep that going. He wants a longer-term deal and he's fighting and he's hungry. That's good because I can't have complacency and people who are thinking they have a divine right to have a shirt and get a contract."

But on-loan midfielder Jonjo Dickman may have played his last game for City after damaging his ankle against Kidderminster.

Dickman has returned to Sunderland for treatment and Brass said: "We would look to bring him back if and when he gets fit but there's not a lot of time between now and the end of the season."

Squads:

York City: Probable: Ovendale, Wise, Hope, Smith, Edmondson, Cooper, Ward, Merris, Dunning, Nogan, Bell. Subs from: Porter, Yalcin, Davies, Coad, Wood, Downes.

Torquay United: Probable: Dearden, Canoville, Woods, Taylor, McGlinchey, Fowler, Hockley, Russell, Hill, Graham, Kuffour. Subs: from Gritton, Woozley, Hazell, Van Heuesden, Broad, Wills, Benefield, Bond.

Updated: 10:38 Friday, March 12, 2004