ANOTHER LANDMARK: Wayne Hall is set to equal Tony Canham's 413 first team appearances against Barnet at Bootham Crescent tomorrow

Back to basics is the new crusade launched by a cagey York City chief Neil Thompson as the Minstermen ready themselves for the visit of free-scoring Barnet to Bootham Crescent.

City's ten game run without a win coincides with an equally wretched spell that has seen them go nine matches without recording a clean sheet.

That rearguard record is in stark contrast to the beginning of the season when a resolute York defence savoured eight clean sheets in just 19 games.

"Then we weren't creating chances and now we are but we are giving away silly goals, " conceded Thompson, who is still blighted by the loss of injured inspirational skipper and defensive colossus Chris Fairclough.

"They are individual errors and it is nothing to do with the team as a whole, people are making mistakes and we are getting severely punished.

"We have got to eliminate them as soon as we can. You have got to protect that goal with your life really and we will certainly be put to the test on Saturday."

Second-placed Barnet, fresh from a 5-3 win over Lincoln, are the division's second top scorers and beat the Minstermen 6-3 at Underhill in August. They have not been beaten on their travels since mid-November.

"They are a very physical team, very direct and what they do they do well. They get results and are up the top of the league for a reason," said the City supremo.

"We have got to get it right defensively - and we have worked on quite a few things defensively in training this week - and there are certainly areas attacking wise where we can get at them."

Despite having lost just five League games this season Barnet do have a tendency to leak goals. Their defence will be weakened tomorrow with the absence of central defensive kingpin Greg Heald, who is in the middle of a three match suspension.

That was earned during Barnet's 2-1 win over Alan Little's Southend when both Heald and one-time City striker Martin Carruthers clashed and were sent-off.

On his likely selection, Thompson was keeping his cards close to his chest but admitted there would be changes after last Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Rochdale.

"There might be one or two tinkerings," said a tight-lipped Thompson, who admitted midfielder Scott Jordan, who played for 45 minutes against Rochdale, defender Martin Reed and striker Marc Williams were all pressing hard for first team recalls.

Despite shaking off a calf strain, Thompson ruled himself out of a starting role but he may earn a place on the bench.

The City boss is keeping his fingers crossed Barry Conlon will have recovered from a badly blackened eye, received during an accidental training ground clash with Matt Hocking.

City v Barnet: Match Points

The London based club have made three previous league visits to Bootham Crescent.

On the last day of the 1991/2 campaign they won 4-1 at York with Ian Blackstone scoring the consolation goal. Gary Bull, later to play for City was one of Barnet's scorers.

In November 1992 a crowd of 6,425 saw a top of the table division three clash end 2-0 in City's favour with Paul Barnes and Nigel Pepper (penalty) on the scoresheet.

The last meeting between the clubs here was in November 1993 when the result was 1-1 with Steve Bushell the scorer.

Tomorrow's Teams

York City: from Mimms, Hocking, Reed, Jordan, Sertori, Jones, Fox, Hall, J Williams, Conlon, M Williams, Turley, Howarth, Bullock, Skinner, Thompson, Dawson.

Barnet: from Harrison, Stockley, Sawyers, Aber, Basham, Hackett, Doolan, Currie, Charlery, King, McGleish, Naisbitt, Darcy, Davison, Hansell, Toms, Brown, Searle

Ref: Mike Dean (Eastham, Wirrall)

Kick-off: 3pm

Hall's milestone

Tomorrow's match against Barnet will be a significant one for York City's Wayne Hall.

The 31-yearold defender is set to make his 413th appearance for the Minstermen to bring him level with sixth-placed Tony Canham in the club's all-time appearance records.

The Barnet game offers students another chance to watch City in action at a reduced fee. Students with valid NUS cards will be admitted to the David Longhurst Stand for just £5.

Read Dave Stanford's City match report tomorrow night on the internet at www.thisisyork.co.uk

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