York City boss Terry Dolan has questioned the wisdom of football's fixture makers after admitting his preparations for tomorrow's FA Cup showdown with Reading had suffered "a double whammy".

Dolan said the sudden call-off of Tuesday night's LDV Vans Trophy tie with Darlington due to a waterlogged pitch had hampered his planning for tomorrow's big cup clash.

The Reading game is also subject to a 9am pitch inspection tomorrow morning after yet more heavy rain left the Bootham Crescent pitch unplayable today.

But as he prepares his side regardless of the doubt hanging over the tie, Dolan said: "The fact it (the Darlington game) was going to played in the week didn't make planning particularly easy, then you plan to get one or two more players match practice and the game's off. It is a double whammy in that respect."

He added: "We would have probably been better off had we not had the (Darlington) fixture in the first place.

"I cannot believe it was scheduled for this week when you have the second round of the FA Cup.

"LDV have put a lot of sponsorship into the competition and you think they would have wanted a bit more exposure for the tournament.

"If that was the case why didn't the Football League have it next week?

"At least we are in the same boat as Reading now because they got a bye in the first round."

Despite the midweek upheaval, Dolan still managed to whisk his players off to Filey for a training session on the beach on Wednesday - a tactic used to great effect prior to the first round tie against non-league Radcliffe Borough.

But as he prepares his side for the visit of Second Division high-fliers Reading, Dolan admits it's now role reversal time for City.

"The tables are turned from the first round in that we are the underdogs now.

"Against Radcliffe it was a case of making sure everyone was in the right frame of mind to make sure it wasn't a banana skin.

"In theory, Reading should be thinking that way now while we will have to be on top of our game to cause an upset. It will be a big test"

Dolan was again keeping his cards close to his chest regarding his starting line-up and formation.

However, after a number of players turned in disappointing performances in last week's win over Shrewsbury the City chief said he expects "a couple of changes" and indicated he will be plumping for experience,

That could mean last Saturday's match winner, Kevin Hulme, claiming a starting berth while new signing Darren Patterson is added to the squad but will almost certainly start on the bench.

As first revealed on this website yesterday, City striker Barry Conlon is staying with Second Division Colchester United on a long-term loan.

Dolan has agreed to let the 22-year-old extend his initial one-month Layer Road loan deal until the end of the season.

It is a similar agreement to the one that saw Bradford City's Mark Bower arrive at Bootham Crescent from Valley Parade last month.

dave.stanford@ycp.co.uk