DEFENDER Tom Cowan admits the pressure is on both him and York City as the Minstermen prepare to pass their Oxbridge examination.

With the university cities of Cambridge tomorrow and Oxford next Saturday next on the agenda Cowan, who will then serve a one-match ban, admits he is looking to go out with bang.

And as he prepares to return to former club Cambridge United tomorrow, the 33-year-old accepts City are reaching a vital period in their campaign.

The Minstermen play their tenth game of the season against United, a significant marker as to how teams can expect to fair for the remainder.

And while City currently lie in third place, with gaps likely to appear between the top, middle and bottom of the table over the next handful of games Cowan concedes its vital City stay in the leading pack by avoiding any slip-up tomorrow.

"A defeat or two and suddenly you can find yourself in mid-table," he told the Evening Press.

"It is these sort of away games where you need to get something from.

"You don't necessarily have to win but you need to get a point away from home.

"Our home form is good at the moment and because of it we have every right to be where we are.

"If we can keep it going we will have every right to be there at the end of the season as well.

"But if you do not pick up points on your travels then that can prove to be a stumbling block."

Cowan will sit-out City's game at Exeter next month after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Darlington in midweek.

And despite being one of City's most consistent performers since arriving at Bootham Crescent in the summer, Cowan admits the looming ban means he has added incentive to do well tomorrow.

"It's important to me and I need to perform to stick in the manager's mind," he confessed.

"We have people who can just walk into the team and it is not a small squad.

"We have about 26 or 27 players in the squad now and the competition is intense.

"If I don't play well and the team wins when I'm suspended then the manager has every right to stick with that team."

Perhaps surprisingly, Cowan insists the fact he is playing a former club tomorrow was not providing another spur.

"I'm not that bothered to be honest," he insisted.

"It is just a normal game that I want to win. I want to win every game equally whether it is against Cambridge or any other side."

"I won't say anything bad about them and I'm not bitter

"When I played, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

"I know I will probably get booed by the fans but that's football.

"I just want to go there and beat them."

City manager Terry Dolan is likely to make just one change to the starting line-up for tomorrow's trip to the Abbey Stadium.

With Alex Mathie expected to be ruled out with the heel injury that forced his withdrawal before half-time in Tuesday's 1-0 win over Darlington, striker Jon Parkin will almost certainly start his first game since the 2-1 defeat at Bury.

Updated: 09:07 Friday, September 20, 2002