NOTHING less than victory over Cambridge United at Bootham Crescent will do tomorrow for York City manager Terry Dolan.

After two defeats on the road at Rushden and Darlington he knows it is vital the Minstermen pick up three points to keep their Third Division promotion hopes alive.

"Those defeats hurt and and it hurt the players and we need to get back on track," he said.

City will give fitness tests to Lee Nogan (foot) and Richard Cooper (pulled chest muscle) ahead of tomorrow's vital game.

Definitely ruled out is Stuart Wise, who came on for Cooper at Feethams but sustained a knee injury.

With so much uncertainty surrounding his final line-up because of the injury situation, Dolan has drafted defender Gary Hobson and midfielder Stephen Brackstone in to the squad. Both have been working their way back to full fitness after being out with injury and illness respectively.

Cambridge have seen their ailing promotion hopes further dented ahead of tomorrow's trip to Bootham Crescent with the news midfielder Shane Tudor has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

The influential and pacey wing-man, who has bagged 11 goals this season, suffered a hamstring injury in United's midweek 2-2 draw with Rochdale and is not expected to play again this term.

In another blow for Cambridge manager John Taylor, right-back Adam Tann will sit out tomorrow's game as he starts a three-match ban after being dismissed in a 1-1 draw at Hull.

The points picked up at Hull and against Dale mark the only two occasions in their last six outings that Cambridge have avoided defeat.

They have won just one League match since December 21, with the lack of three point hauls seeing the Us plummet down the table from third place at Christmas to 12th and seven points adrift of the play-off places.

In another indication of United's problems and a further confidence booster for City, Cambridge have won just one away game in five months.

Much of Taylor's problems stem from the fact United have played in 14 cup matches this season.

Coupled with a number of postponements, the Us now face having to cram nine games into their schedule this month and all with a first team squad of just 18 players.

Three FA Cup ties all went to replays while United also reached the southern area final of the LDV Vans Trophy before losing out to Bristol City over two legs.

City's juniors are scheduled to play at Darlington in their Merit Division game tomorrow (11am).

Tomorrow's squads:

York City

(from): Ingham, Edmondson, Smith, Brass, Jones, Potter, Bullock, Cooper, Nogan, Parkin, Shandran, Stockdale, Mathie, Wood, Cowan, Brackstone, Hobson.

Cambridge

Marshall, Goodhind, Angus, Iriekpen, Murray, Guttridge, Wanless, Fleming, Newey, Kitson, Riza. Subs from: Brennan, Youngs, Ravell, Chillingworth, Nacca.

Referee: Mike Ryan (Lancashire))

Kick off: 3pm

Match points:

City v Cambridge

In the seven previous League meetings at Bootham Crescent City have won six times.

City's biggest win in the series was 3-0 when the clubs first met at York in March 1971. Scorers that day were Kevin McMahon (2) and Paul Aimson.

United's solitary success here was in 1988/89 when they won 2-1.

The clubs last met at York on April 15, 1995 when goals from Tony Barras and Andy McMillan earned City a 2-0 win. The line-up was: Kiely, McMillan, Hall, Bushell (Peverell), Tutill, Barras, McCarthy, Jordan (Scaife), Baker, Murty, Canham.

Players to have represented both clubs include Rowland Hurrey, Dennis Walker, Mike Cook, Mick Heathcote, Colin Alcide and Tom Cowan.

Updated: 11:32 Friday, March 07, 2003