Mental steel holds the key to unlocking the Bootham Crescent barrier of York City's dire home form.

City midfielder Steve Agnew (right) believes the team's poor home run is not down to 'home pressure'

So claimed captain Steve Agnew as he surveyed the prospects of inspiring the Minstermen to their first Division Two win for almost two months at the expense of tomorrow's visitors Northampton Town.

One duck was broken this week when, at the tenth attempt, City triumphed. The 2-1 win over Enfield in the FA Cup first round replay was hardly impressive and was barely acclaimed by the patient City faithful.

Now City's task was to repeat the feat. But the hosts have not posted back-to-back triumphs on home turf for more than a year when they saw off Preston and Wycombe in a similar five-day spell.

Agnew however refused to blame 'home pressure' for City's inability to put visitors to flight.

"The only pressure is that which has been brought on by ourselves as players because we have not won at home for so long," he said.

"Games at home have got to be an advantage. Our job is to get a win in the league tomorrow at home, get those three points and go from there."

The stylish midfielder insisted City had to display greater mental toughness, though he added that was more difficult with the side wracked by injuries and sprinkled with several younger players.

"With not winning for a while it's difficult to get confidence back.

"Through my career I have found the mental side is a big part. Now we are in one of those situations where it's a test of character. What we need is a bit more mental toughness.

"We've got to remember what we have done earlier in the season and to believe that two or three wins will change things very quickly."

The loss of Neil Thompson had been crucial to slowing City's rate of recovery, insisted Agnew, who, like the player-coach, had been recruited to increase the level of experience in the City squad.

"You look around for experience and you see a lot of younger players about you," he said, taking comfort from the FA Cup result.

"The other night was not a great performance by any stretch of the imagination and the honesty within the camp was that all the players knew that," added the one-time Sunderland, Barnsley, and Leicester playmaker.

"We know we can do better and while there is a lot of room for improvement it might just give us that psychological lift."

He also absolved under-fire City manager Alan Little of blame. "I certainly feel the manager knows what he is doing and we have got a pack of players that know what they are doing.

"The manager has told us we are good enough and it's down to that self-confidence factor.

"As with our early performances we have got to feel we are much on a par, if not better than most in this league."

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