ONE into two is the only way forward for shell-shocked York City ahead of tomorrow's crunch clash with Carlisle, according to defender Gary Hobson.

After three opening defeats, the City centre-back admitted Friday's trip to Brunton Park is, even at this early stage of the season, a mightily important game for the Minstermen.

The former Brighton and Hull defensive linchpin reasons City must take heart from their first-half showing against Stoke City on Tuesday night and reproduce their form of the first 45 minutes over 90.

"It has to start at Carlisle now or we are playing catch-up," admitted the 27-year-old.

"It is a massive game for us now. We have to put it right.

"We shouldn't be worried about pressure at this stage of the season and three points on Friday could see us in mid-table.

"We must try and take that first-half performance and put two together at Carlisle and, hopefully, we can get a result.

"Three points will bring a bit of confidence back to the lads and we can build from there."

Hobson admitted City were unlucky to find themselves a goal down at half-time against Stoke but could have no excuses for their poor second-half showing which saw the Potters cruise to a 5-1 win.

"The goal in the first half was against the run of play and we were a lot happier with our first-half performance than the last two games," said Hobson.

"We said at half-time to carry it on but they scored so quickly which was unprofessional really .

"Then Barry Jones scored a great goal and we got ourselves back in it but instead of staying together we just didn't play very well at all.

"Stoke are a good side, there is almost two divisions between us at the moment, but you have got to try and take the first-half performance and take the positives.

"For 45 minutes we put a good performance together and now we have got to try and put two decent halves together."