Manager Terry Dolan is hoping his revitalised Minstermen will overturn title chasing Darlington in front of Bootham Crescent's biggest crowd of the season tomorrow.

DANGER MAN: Former York City striker Marco Gabbiadini, who has netted 27 goals for Darlington this season, poses a big threat to City's six-match unbeaten run

After City extended their unbeaten run to six games at Southend last week and with the Quakers expecting to bring a large following, Dolan is anticipating a bumper crowd to surpass the 5,109 that saw City draw with Hull back in October.

"Darlington are bringing something between 1,500 and 2,000, and if we can attract one or two back who have not been coming recently then we could be touching the 5,000 mark," said Dolan.

"That would be good, we have only had 5,000 once this season, and it would be nice to attract our biggest crowd of the season.

"The players, the way they have been performing, deserve it."

Dolan, insisting the fans had a big part to play in City's turnaround in fortunes, made a point of praising the all-singing supporters who made the long journey to Southend last Saturday.

"They were absolutely magnificent and to everyone who went down there a big thank-you from myself and the players," he said.

The City chief makes just one addition to the squad that travelled to Roots Hall, with Peter Swan available again after serving a suspension.

However, Dolan was remaining tight-lipped as to whether Swan will make an immediate return for what the City boss confesses is his biggest examination since taking control.

"It will certainly be the most difficult game since I have been here but looking at it positively it is certainly a great test for us," said the City boss.

Dolan admitted the game had an added dimension because a handful of ex-Minstermen - most notably the division three's top scorer, Marco Gabbiadini - are expected to be in the Quakers' ranks.

"We obviously have to be aware of the opposition and the fact that Gabbiadini has scored 27 goals means he is a threat," said Dolan, who watched Darlington salvage a point against lowly Shrewsbury on Wednesday.

"They have got quite an experienced team and they are probably looking forward to playing away from home because of the pitch at Feethams.

"But unless they have a disaster between now and the end of the season the top three (Rotherham, Swansea and Darlington) look as if they are going to go up in the automatic places.

"When you are in the top three you want to be the team that wins it. They will be disappointed to have thrown two points away against Shrewsbury and they will be looking to get those back tomorrow so from our point of view it is a good test."

York City's intermediates are in action tomorrow against Oldham in the Football League Youth Alliance Premier Division North. The match, at City's Wigginton road training ground, kicks-off at 11am.

York City v Darlington

Match Points

The clubs have met 44 times in league football at York and City have won 28 and drawn ten scoring 107 goals to 46.

City's biggest win in the series was 7-0 in 1985/6 when Tony Canham recorded a hat-trick. The other scorers that day were Keith Walwyn (2), Keith Houchen and Steve Senior.

Other big victories were 6-1 in 1932/3, 5-1 in 1962/3 and 4-0 in 1955/6.

Darlington's biggest success at Bootham Crescent was 5-2 in 1948/9 and the last of their six victories here was in 1990/1 when John Borthwick, later to play for City, scored the only goal of the game.

The biggest crowd was in October 1953 when 12,179 saw City win 30 -1.

When the clubs last met here in January 1993 the game produced the first goalless draw in the series at York.

Along with the current crop of players other to have represented both clubs include Tony Moor, Mick Astbury, Barry Lyons, Dennis Wann, Jimmy Seal, John Stone, Kevan Smith and John Borthwick.

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