OXFORD United boss Ian Atkins reckons his side can silence the York City faithful tomorrow - canned cheers or no canned cheers.

Atkins claims to be unperturbed by the fact City - as first revealed in the Evening Press - are now using taped chants to boost the atmosphere at Bootham Crescent.

He said: "York can play whatever music or noise they want, but if we do our job properly it won't make a blind bit of difference - because we'll win."

However, the former Carlisle and Northampton boss is clearly less than impressed at City's attempts to turn Bootham Crescent into an intimidating stadium.

He said: "It can be an unfair advantage, so in that sense it's not right, but I'm not going to make an official complaint about it.

"If one can do it, then everybody can do it. I remember Lincoln having something similar with all their long throws, piling the bodies in and then they'd have a great big siren to get the crowd going.

"But it's a poor version of getting the crowd excited, because, I suppose, the team can't do it."

Improving United, who could go above City in the table with victory tomorrow, are looking for a fourth consecutive away win after recent successes at Bristol City in the Worthington Cup, Boston and Leyton Orient.

The Us will be without the services of three-goal top-scorer Andy Scott tomorrow, who misses the game through suspension.

Also ruled-out is former Preston and Southampton striker Steve Basham, who has been plagued by a hamstring problem in recent weeks.

But former Brighton and Shrewsbury striker Lee Steele hit a hat-trick for the reserves in midweek in his comeback from an ankle injury and is included in the squad.

Updated: 10:52 Friday, September 27, 2002