Septimber!

In the wake of three successive reverses, the City chief has pledged "definite changes" for the clash with the Quakers although he was giving little away as to who will make way or come into the fold.

Midfield dynamo Darren Dunning is available after missing Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Yeovil through suspension and looks certain to return to the starting line-up.

However, Brass hinted there will be more than just the one change.

With Darren Edmondson, Jon Parkin, Chris Smith and Christian Fox all still ruled out through injury, the City player-boss is hardly spoilt for choice.

Richard Cooper could be pressing for a recall at right wing-back or could even be deployed in midfield to give the City engine room some added bite.

Midfield playmaker Stephen Brackstone will also be hoping to make his first start of the season, although it is up front and in defence rather than the centre of the park where City have been exposed in their recent outings.

If Brass has a number of changes planned he could decide to switch from his more favoured 5-3-2 formation to 4-4-2 or even 4-3-3.

Having succumbed regularly to crosses into the box, an extra man in midfield could help stem the opposition's supply line from out wide while an extra forward could be used to prove attack is the best form of defence.

That could mean an instant recall for Liam George, who was dropped to the bench at Yeovil. Alternatively, Lee Bullock, who started the season as an attacker and finished last Saturday's game up front, could return to front-line duties.

Brass admitted he expects to learn much about his players' character tonight.

"We knew during the course of the season we would have a run like this. It has come sooner than expected but we have to get on with it," said the City player-chief.

"This is when you find out an awful lot about your players, who the characters are and who can dig in when the going gets tough and pull us out of this worrying time.

"We have to make sure we get back on track and also make sure that all the hard work we produced in the first four games does not go to waste."

After two disappointing first-half performances in their last two outings, the City boss was particularly keen for City to start positively tonight.

"The emphasis will be on making sure we get off to a flying start. It is something we have been working on and it is something we will do," said Brass, who has had Darlington watched three times this season.

Match points:

- In 48 past League visits to York the Quakers have managed six wins and 11 draws.

- City have recorded 112 goals to 46 in the series and the biggest of their 31 victories was 7-0 in 1985-86 when Tony Canham bagged a hat-trick.

- Other big wins were 6-1 in 1932-33 and 5-1 in 1962-63.

- Darlington last won at Bootham Crescent 1-0 in 1990-91 and their biggest success here was 5-2 in 1948-49.

- City won the corresponding game last term 1-0 with substitute Jon Parkin netting the winner. The line-up on September 17, 2002 was: Fettis, Edmondson, Smith, Brass, Hobson, Cowan, Brackstone, Bullock, Duffield, Mathie (Parkin), Nogan.

- Several players have appeared for both clubs over the years, including goalkeepers Tony Moor and Mick Astbury, plus Jimmy Seal, Barry Lyons, John Stone, Dennis Wann, Chris Evans, Steve Tutill, Marco Gabbiadini, Glenn Naylor, Peter Duffield and Gary Himsworth.

- Current links are provided by Barry Conlon, Lee Nogan and Chris Porter.

Updated: 11:09 Tuesday, September 16, 2003