SUSPENDED Darren Dunning is tipping his team-mates to get a result at the home of horse racing on Saturday.

Cheltenham is more famous for the Gold Cup than it is for its struggling football club and Dunning, who will be serving a one-match ban, is hoping that City are a good bet to end a run of seven away games without a win.

He said: "I am gutted to be missing the match because it's a big game for us. Cheltenham are down there and it gives us a real good chance to get three points and we need to start winning games because teams are catching up.

"The fact that they could be getting a new manager might make it tougher because they may be out to prove a point but I think we can get the result we want and end our disappointing run away from home."

Dunning's suspension will probably see Richard Cooper earn a recall as the Minstermen's midfield anchor man, having lost his place at right wing-back to fit-again skipper Darren Edmondson last weekend.

Cooper is the most likely candidate with Christian Fox still out and Stephen Brackstone doubtful with a back injury.

And Dunning believes the versatile Cooper, if selected, will do a good job, saying: "He's a hard-working lad who will fit in well and if he does step in there he won't let the team down whatsoever."

Dunning is currently the clear leader of the Evening Press Player of the Year standings and he credits his impressive form this season to a higher level of consistency.

"I think before I have gone two or three games playing well and then maybe a couple when I didn't," Dunning admitted.

"But this season I've tried to increase those runs without an off day to four or five games."

Fox has resumed training this week after his troublesome ankle problem but is not yet ready for a first-team recall.

Manager Chris Brass said: "He needs a few reserve games first but he's training and has not had any reaction so it's fingers crossed."

York City's youngsters entertain Halifax Town in the Youth Alliance North-East Conference at the Wigginton Road training complex tomorrow (kick-off 11am).

York City: (probable): Ovendale; Edmondson, Smith, Brass, Hope, Merris; Cooper, Ward, Bullock; Nogan, Parkin. Subs: Porter, George, Dove, Wood, Wise.

Cheltenham (probable): Higgs; Bird, Jones, M Duff, Victory; Devaney, Howells, Yates, Fyfe; Taylor, Brayson. Subs: Brough, Spencer, Corbett, Griffin, Odejayi.

Referee: Steve Tomlin (Sussex)

Kick off: 3pm

- City have made three previous League trips to Whaddon Road.

- In 1999-2000 Mark Sertori netted the only goal of the game and the following season Lee Nogan scored in a 1-1 draw.

- The last visit on March 9, 2002 ended in a 4-0 defeat and the line-up was: Fettis, Hocking, Parkin, Hobson, Potter, Richardson, Brass, Bullock (Wood), Nogan, Mathie, Proctor.

- Players to have represented both City and Town include Sam McNab, Mark Sertori and Neil Grayson.

- If City fail to score at Cheltenham they will create a new club record of seven successive away League games without a goal.

- In two previous seasons they went six games in a row without scoring on their travels (1963/64 and 1975/76).

Stats by David Batters

Updated: 10:58 Friday, October 31, 2003