SKIPPER Darren Edmondson admits York City have to rediscover their winning habit ahead of tomorrow's crunch clash with Yorkshire rivals Doncaster Rovers at Bootham Crescent.

Since winning their first four league games of the season, the stuttering Minstermen have won just twice in 15 games.

They have drawn their last four league outings though and just two defeats in their last ten have kept City in the top half of the table.

However, with the critical festive period looming large, Edmondson insists City have to start turning single point returns into three point hauls and soon.

And the influential captain maintains that victory quest will only be achieved if a goal-shy City start hitting the back of the net again.

"We played well against Barnsley in the FA Cup but we can't keep coming out of games saying we've played well but not having much to show for it," Edmondson told the Evening Press.

"Doncaster gives us a great chance to bounce back. It should be a great atmosphere and I understand they will be bringing a few supporters and hopefully we will pack a few in.

"But we need to take three points to be honest and turning draws into wins is often the hardest thing to do.

"We found doing that hard last year and we do need to practice our final ball into the box and relaxing in front of goal.

"It is something we have been working on in training as a team because it is not always the forwards' fault that we don't score.

"We haven't been getting enough goals from midfield or from set-pieces."

After failing to score in his previous two seasons as a City player, Edmondson was by comparison almost prolific last time out, his five goal haul making him the club's joint-third top scorer.

And while he admits goalscoring is not his forte, he insists he and his fellow team-mates must start to share the burden.

Edmondson, who stayed late at the training ground yesterday for extra shooting practice, said: "It is something I do have to work on and bring to my game.

"I get in good areas as much as other people and playing as a wing-back I'm aware offensive duties are just as important as defensive.

"I need to start weighing in again with a few goals."

The former Huddersfield Town and Carlisle favourite reckons City are handily placed on the coat-tails of the play-offs.

But he admits City must make sure they are still there come Christmas.

"There is always one team who puts a run together or goes on a slump but usually those in the top half and those in the bottom half at Christmas stay together," he reasoned.

"We have four or five huge games coming up before Christmas and there will be the three or four games all close together over Christmas.

"They can all make a massive difference and we have talked about it.

"Even last year, when things were going bad off the pitch, we were still up there at Christmas and we were able to then stay there until the end of the season.

"We realise the importance of that again.

"We will be building up towards it and hopefully starting on Saturday with three points."

Updated: 10:50 Friday, November 14, 2003