LOOKING back to go forward is York City's midfield driving force Kevin Hulme.

The former Halifax Town skipper admits the Minstermen were left reeling by the manner of their 4-1 opening day mauling at Chesterfield last weekend.

But with City set to make their first home appearance of the new campaign against Cheltenham tomorrow, now is not the time to panic insists the experienced Hulme.

To prove his point, the 32-year-old explained both last season's top two sides - Rotherham and Swansea - suffered poor starts before going on to claim promotion.

Ironically, Swansea, who went up to Division Two as champions, lost 1-0 at Bootham Crescent while Rotherham went down 2-1 at Lincoln City.

"If you look at last season, Rotherham lost four out of five games so I don't think you can make any judgements until after ten or 15 games," said Hulme.

"We mentioned the result with Swansea as another way of staying positive. York kicked-off by winning that game but look where the sides finished.

"Come back and see where we are after ten games because I think only then can you judge how we are doing."

However, another defeat tomorrow could see City hand many of their Division Three rivals an early six-point head start in the chase for promotion, a fact not lost on Hulme.

"Getting beat last week has left us needing our first win and the quicker we get that the better, that's why in some ways Saturday is a big game," he said.

"But everybody is up for it and if we can get the right result we can build on it and get ready for Stoke City on Tuesday.

"Cheltenham are a typical side for this division; a good, strong, organised team who will be difficult to break down but the onus is on us to go and do it."

Hulme admitted the players were chomping at the bit to put last Saturday's disappointing defeat behind them.

"It was funny coming in for training on Monday, most of the lads didn't quite know how to take it.

"We had done well in the first-half at Chesterfield then all of a sudden it went badly wrong and we couldn't put our finger on it.

"As the week's gone on we have got over it and the gaffer has got everyone bubbling again, so hopefully we can get the right result tomorrow."

Cheltenham, who feature former Rowntree Mackintosh and City striker Neil Grayson, will be without midfield playmaker Russell Milton (jarred pelvis) for up to four weeks, while rising star Mark Devaney (hamstring) is extremely doubtful.

Chesterfield v City file

York City

Probable: Alan Fettis, Darren Edmondson, Graham Potter, Peter Swan, Mark Sertori, Gary Hobson, Christian Fox, Kevin Hulme, Peter Duffield, Barry Conlon, Steve Agnew.

Subs: from - Russ Howarth, Lee Bullock, Barry Jones, David McNiven, Matt Hocking, Marc Thompson, Colin Alcide.

Injury news: Craig Skinner (thigh), Chris Fairclough (knee), Wayne Hall (thigh)

Cheltenham

From: Steve Book, Neil Howarth, Chris Banks, John Brough, Mark Freeman, Richard Walker Michael Duff, Lee Howells, Mark Yates, Jamie Victory, Hugh MacAuley, Justin Alsop, Neil Grayson, Jason White, Michael Jackson, Bob Bloomer.

Injury news: Russell Milton (pelvis), Mark Devaney (hamstring) Lee Howells (doubtful with ankle)

Referee: Mike Pike (Barrow-in-Furness)

Match Facts

CITY will hope to improve this term on their poor home record which has seen them win just 38 times and score only 130 goals in 115 games in the last five seasons at Bootham Crescent.

Just one previous meeting between the clubs at York when last December, Town won 2-1.

Along with Neil Grayson another player to have represented both clubs was Sam McNab who played for City in the 1955 FA Cup semi-final.

City's five-year home record

P W D L F A Pts

1995/96 23 8 6 9 28 29 30

1996/97 23 8 6 9 27 31 30

1997/98 23 9 7 7 26 21 34

1998/99 23 6 8 9 28 33 26

1999/00 23 7 10 6 21 21 31