YORK City's faithful were given a big hand by manager Alan Little as he savoured a showdown at tonight's fans' forum.

The City boss saluted the Bootham Crescent support for their patience and backing of the injury-blighted Minstermen, who fought back to salvage a point from Saturday's visit of Northampton town.

"The crowd were great," said Little.

"They were patient and the team came off the field with the right sort of reception from the fans. All you can ask for is the team to give it a go. That's all people expect and I think they saw that against Northampton.

"Hopefully we can progress from there.

"Little will be in the firing line alongside club directors and officials at the forum which will be held tonight at Queen Anne's School from 7pm to 9pm.

The forum will be chaired by former Evening Press chief sports writer Malcolm Huntington, whose mediation skills as a one-time Wimbledon umpire may well be needed.

The City boss said he did not quite know what to expect, but would be happy to answer any questions, provided they were constructive and not abusive.

"It's got to be done properly and sensibly. If people are constructive in their questions then I will be there to answer any criticism.

"But hopefully the fans will have reasonable comments to make. After all, we all want what's best for the club.

"While downcast at not registering victory against the Cobblers the City manager nonetheless was delighted by the attitude and application shown by his injury-ravaged ranks.

He admitted that the absence of seven senior regulars had left him with just 14 fit outfield players forcing him to adopt a 4-3-3 line-up.

Even among those 14, midfielder and captain Steve Agnew, plus winger Gordon Connelly, were nursing knocks.

Explaining that City had only an hour of working on the formation on the morning of Saturday's game Little ventured: "It was the only system I could play with the personnel available.

"It's not the easiest system to play and all credit to the players for giving it a go. I could not expect any more from them and then pleasing thing was the fans saw the passion and commitment from the team.

"Crucial to that assurance, insisted Little, was the verve of City's three youngest players - Martin Reed, Richard Cresswell and Martin Garratt. "They set the tone, and while we did not win, it was at least a decent performance.

"It's not the right result - we wanted a win - but it was a reasonable show and we fully deserved at least a draw."

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