DEFENDER Scott Jones is adamant York City are out to maintain their new-found winning habit at lowly Bristol Rovers tonight.

Two successive wins against fellow promotion candidates Bournemouth and Cambridge United have pushed the Minstermen back into the play-off zone.

But Jones is keenly aware that their recent good work could count for nothing if City come a cropper tonight against a team fighting relegation.

Jones told the Evening Press. "After two defeats on the trot we bounced back well against Cambridge and we've kept it going against Bournemouth.

"If we can put a little run together now then it is certainly the right time of the year to be doing it. We don't want to spoil what we've achieved in the last two games.

"We don't want to get carried away and start getting sloppy.

"If we go there and lose it will be a massive kick in the teeth for us, especially because it is such a long trip - it gives you a long time to think about it on the way home.

"But I think we have to go there and be positive and really go for it and go for the jugular."

With nearly all the teams in the top half of the table separated by just a handful of points, Jones admitted it was important City not only avoid defeat but go gunning for more three point hauls.

"It is really tight and that means wins are so important," he said.

"We had a spell of drawing too many but Saturday's win will give us a lot of confidence. A lot of people think Bournemouth are one of the top sides.

"But we are keeping in there and those three points have put us right in the shake-up."

Tonight's trip to the Memorial Ground will be of added significance for former Pirate Jones, who joined City at the start of this season after a successful loan spell at Bootham Crescent at the end of the previous campaign.

"It will be my first time in Bristol since I left and I'm sure it is going to interesting. No doubt I'll get a hostile reception," reasoned the 27-year-old.

Manager Terry Dolan has injury doubts over Richard Cooper and Lee Bullock after both midfielders were substituted on Saturday suffering from calf problems.

With the club's future still uncertain, it seems unlikely Dolan will be able to add Keith Graydon to tonight's squad.

Had the Trust's take-over proposal been ratified at yesterday's meeting of creditors Dolan was hopeful the Football League would finally sanction Graydon's proposed one-month loan deal from Sunderland.

However, with the creditors' meeting adjourned for another seven days it seems unlikely the Football League will give Graydon the green light to complete his temporary switch.

Tonight's squads:

York City

(possible): Ingham, Edmondson, Smith, Brass, Jones, Cowan, Potter, Cooper, Bullock, Nogan, Parkin.

Subs, from: Stockdale, Shandran, Brackstone, Hobson, Mathie.

Bristol Rovers

(probable): Howie, Parker, Barratt, Austin, Anderson, Carlisle, Quinn, Hyde, Llewellyn, Tate, Grazioli.

Subs: Astafjevef, Street, Hogg, Bryant, Gilroy.

Referee: Phil Joslin (Notts)

Kick off: 7.45pm

Match points:

In 17 previous League trips City have recorded five wins and five draws at the home of Bristol Rovers.

Their last victory was 2-1 in 1997/98 when Barry Jones and Richard Cresswell were on target.

The corresponding game last term ended in a 2-2 draw, Graham Potter scoring for both sides. City's other marksman was Richard Cooper. The City line-up on September 22, 2001 was: Fettis, Edmondson, Hocking, Fielding (Mathie), Potter, Cooper, Bullock, Brass, Fox (Salvati), Nogan, Proctor.

Players to have represented both City and Rovers include in the 1930s prolific scorer Maurice Dando and half-back Ted Hathway.

John Ward managed both clubs in the 1990s.

Updated: 11:01 Tuesday, March 18, 2003