DEFENSIVE linchpin Chris Smith saluted skipper Chris Brass as York City celebrated a second successive clean sheet and a 1-0 win over Darlington, writes Dave Stanford.

Smith, who has played in every game this season, reckoned Brass has had a vital role to play in his rise to prominence.

Smith, 21, enthused: "He makes it 100 per cent easier through his talking and positioning.

"His experience is important. He's only 26 I think but he has helped me so much.

"Last season I was in and out of the side and didn't really get a settled place.

"The back three have now struck up a good partnership and it is really helping."

The former Reading starlet said the significance of last night's win, coming after a draw and defeat in City's last two outings, could not be underestimated.

"It was an important win because we needed to keep the pressure on the top five," he said.

"It was also good to keep a clean sheet, if we can keep clean sheets then you always have a chance of winning games.

"They had the better chances first half and we were perhaps lucky to come in 0-0, but we held out and managed to step it up in the second half.

"We created more chances in the second-half and in the end it should have been three or four."

Updated: 12:06 Wednesday, September 18, 2002