YORK City's two matches this week realised a point apiece but in all other aspects it was a week of contrasts for the Minstermen.

City were a side transformed against Oxford United, as vibrant and enterprising as they had been shaky and scrappy against Boston United just three days earlier.

The atmosphere at both matches was in sharp contrast too.

Against Boston the fans in the Main Stand and close to the press box were noticeably restless, frustrated and quick to shout criticism.

Against Oxford, the support was much more positive, even after City fell behind to an early goal.

Of course, fans pay their money and have a right to criticise.

And many will rightly claim it is up to the players to lead by example and if they start brightly and stay positive the support will duly follow.

However, personally, I fail to see how carping at a player can improve a situation.

I think it is the job of supporters to encourage as much as possible, even when the chips are down, and if expectations have not been met by the final whistle then fans should vent their frustration.

Players, particularly young ones like those at City, need to feel confident to perform. They also need to know they won't be pilloried for making an honest mistake.

If they get abused every time they misplace a pass it means the next time the ball comes their way they will welcome it as much as a dose of 'flu.

The end result - another rushed pass or hurried clearance and the rot sets in.

Last Saturday, the same supporters who chided the players for knocking the ball sideways in defence as they tried to maintain possession then berated them for knocking long, hopeful balls out of defence.

It reminded me of the dark days of just a few years ago, when opposition managers relished coming to Bootham Crescent knowing if they could frustrate the early efforts of the home side the fans would soon turn.

It is surely no coincidence in the six seasons leading up to the start of City's off-field turmoil the Minstermen boasted the worst home record of all 92 professional League clubs.

During that time, City lost more games (48) at home than they won (47) and conceded more goals (161) than they scored (153).

And yet in the 22 months since City's off-field problems surfaced, they have lost just four league games at Bootham Crescent.

Compare that statistic with the five-month period preceding the off-pitch turmoil when City lost six times on home soil.

The reason for such a dramatic transformation is obvious.

During the off-field torment, there was an unshakeable bond forged between the team and its supporters. It was an "us against the world" mentality and supporters were more prone to encourage than criticise.

The more City teetered on the brink the more the home support was galvanised, the better the team responded and the better the match-day atmosphere.

It would be such a shame if that united front was now lost just because the club's future has been safeguarded.

Let's keep the home fires burning and let's keep Bootham Crescent a cauldron where visiting teams fear to tread.

Coicindentallly, City's match with Oxford produced the Minstermen's lowest home crowd of the season.

In fact, the attendance of 3,022 was City's lowest home crowd for a league match in almost 12 months.

Back on October 29, 2002, just 2,970 fans watched City draw 1-1 with Wrexham.

City's previous lowest crowd of the season came just last Saturday, when 3,190 watched the Minstermen draw 1-1 with Boston.

The downturn in attendances have coincided with the club's decision, announced at the end of September, to increase adult admission to Bootham Crescent by £1.

At the three home games since that announcement, the crowds have steadily declined.

However, I don't think the £1 admission really lays behind the reason for the crowd's decline.

It is the on-field performance that really dictates the crowd and a downturn in results and performances from the men in red - and not forgetting a downturn in the atmosphere - have been the more likely factor.

Tuesday's polished performance from both players and fans should hopefully have stopped the rot.

Christmas treat

HOPEFULLY, last night's fund-raising race night in the Bootham Crescent social club proved a big money-spinner.

However, attentions will now turn to another potential money-spinner, the Christmas dinner and dance being staged at the end of November.

The event will take place on Saturday, November 29 - after City play host to Swansea City at Bootham Crescent - in the Dante Suite at York Racecourse.

The City players are expected to be in attendance.

Tickets are priced £27.50 and forms can be obtained from the City club shop at Bootham Crescent or by e-mailing Kirsten Gillies at kirsten@ycst.org.uk

Goal rush

OXFORD United's opening goal on Tuesday night, courtesy of manager Chris Brass' outstretched arm, was actually their fourth goal in 14 minutes.

United had beaten Bury by 4-0 last Saturday, with three of their goals coming in the final ten minutes.

At an average of a goal just about every three minutes, United were threatening to make it 30-0 or thereabouts against the Minstermen.

In the circumstances, City did well to restrict them to just one more goal.

Golden Browne

CITY trialist striker Gary Browne bagged his first goals for Whitby Town last weekend.

The former Manchester City striker and Northern Ireland Under-21 international is still training with the Minstermen as he looks to win a contract at Bootham Crescent.

However, in order to build up his match fitness Browne is playing for UniBond League outfit Whitby.

His double striker last Saturday was not enough to stop the Blues from losing 4-3 at Lancaster City.

Super Mac

FORMER City striker David McNiven bagged his ninth goal of a productive season with Conference strugglers Leigh RMI last Saturday.

McNiven, City's top scorer three seasons ago, was unable to stop RMI slipping to a 4-1 defeat at home to Barnet, a result that brought the curtain down on manager Mark Patterson's reign.

Updated: 10:55 Saturday, October 25, 2003