York City's misfiring big guns will be wheeled out for reserves action tonight.

A strike force of £2million man Marco Gabbiadini, 16-goal top scorer Rodney Rowe, and the club's senior striker Gary Bull, constitute the City attack for the Pontin's League division two trip to Barnsley.

For Gabbiadini and Rowe the game is critical to their hold on a first-team front-line place.

Both men were hauled off after ineffective outings in the first hour of the 1-1 Nationwide draw with Blackpool, their replacements Neil Tolson and Richard Cresswell crucial to City retrieving a point.

Now Gabbiadini and Rowe will have to show the right response if they are to have a chance of starting against Luton Town.

City will also be faced with a major defensive headache at Kenilworth Road. Skipper Tony Barras is still a week away from full fitness from his groin injury, while Martin Reed, who has deputised so steadily in the past two games, is serving a one-match ban after his booking against Fulham 10 days ago.

Reed is included in the reserves' side, but youngster Andrew Dawson, one of three Youth Trainees to be offered professional contracts, has been rested from the trip to Oakwell as he may be needed against the Hatters on Saturday.

Dawson could get a chance at right-back if Andy McMillan is moved inside to centre-back. The planned re-shuffle may however involve on-loan Neil Thompson shifting inside with Paddy Atkinson recalled to left-back.

Meanwhile, Bristol City returned to the top of the Second Division after coming from behind to beat hosts Oldham 2-1 last night.

The Robins trailed to a Matthew Rush first-half goal before hitting back with two strikes in a minute from Goodridge and Roberts.

Elsewhere, play-off rivals Wrexham and Grimsby shared a goal-less draw at the Racecourse Ground, while Gillingham's challenge fell away in a 1-0 defeat at Walsall.

City Reserves: Samways, Fox, Reed, Rennison, Atkinson, Alderson, Jordan, Garratt, Gabbiadini, Bull, Rowe. Subs: Tolson, Dale, Abblett.

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