YORK City will not be the only relegation-threatened League Two outfit buoyed by a sizeable following this weekend.

The Minstermen have sold their 1,204 allocation of tickets for tomorrow’s crucial clash at Dagenham & Redbridge but third-bottom Barnet, who need a win to guarantee their survival against Northampton, will also be supported by a 1,360-strong travelling army of fans at Sixfields.

Elsewhere, 23rd-placed AFC Wimbledon have sold all of their 4,500 tickets for their home meeting with Fleetwood, who are unlikely to take more than 150 fans to Kingsmeadow.

Plymouth, meanwhile, will play in front of a four-figure away following at Rochdale, where they need a point to preserve their Football League status.

Devon neighbours Torquay, who also need a point to be certain of safety, might be overwhelmed by the support of mid-table visitors Bristol Rovers however.

Despite having only pride left to play for, John Ward’s Pirates have sold all 1,500 of their tickets for the Plainmoor clash.

On paper, Barnet look to have the toughest task of the afternoon, taking the division’s worst away record to a club boasting the best home column.

But, with the Cobblers already assured of a play-off place and not in contention for an automatic promotion spot, home boss Aidy Boothroyd is unlikely to risk the likes of senior professionals Kelvin Langmead, Clive Platt, Adebayo Akinfenwa, Ishmel Demontagnac and Joe Widdowson, who have been nursing injuries during the latter part of the season.

Wimbledon should welcome back experienced striker Gary Alexander for the Fleetwood match after an ankle problem has restricted his activity in recent weeks.

But Torquay will be without suspended top scorer Rene Howe after he reached 15 bookings for the season.

Ryan Jarvis or Ashley Yeoman will start instead, while on-loan Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald will be unavailable for Rovers due to a hamstring injury.

Plymouth are expected to make no changes from the side that lost narrowly 1-0 to Rotherham last weekend.

Tomorrow’s big matches: AFC Wimbledon v Fleetwood, Dagenham v CITY, Northampton v Barnet, Rochdale v Plymouth, Torquay v Bristol Rovers.


Minstermen scenarios

If York City draw or win at Dagenham they will be safe.

If York City lose, they will be relegated if AFC Wimbledon beat Fleetwood and Barnet take at least a point at Northampton, UNLESS Plymouth lose by a margin of defeat that is three goals greater than that suffered by the Minstermen, or Torquay are beaten by a margin five goals greater.


Match facts

YORK City made three Conference visits to Victoria Road, winning on their first two trips.

In 2004/5, they won 3-0 with Darren Dunning (2) and Paul Groves on the scoresheet and the following campaign won 2-0, thanks to goals from Andy Bishop and Clayton Donaldson.

The last time the clubs met at this ground was on February 24, 2007, when City lost 2-1.

Neal Bishop was the scorer and the line-up was: Evans, Craddock, Parslow, McGurk, Lloyd (Peat), Bowey (Elvins), Panther, Bishop, Farrell, Brodie (Woolford), Donaldson.

At the time the Daggers topped the Nationwide Conference with City in fourth place.

It happened on April 27

1935: City beat Carlisle United 7-0 at Bootham Crescent with Maurice Dando hitting a hat trick. Also on target were Jack Eyres (2) and Tom Pawson, plus an opponent. The crowd was 2,864 and City finished 15th in Division Three North.

1954: A 3-2 win at Halifax Town in the last game of the season enabled City to finish 22nd in the Northern Section and avoid having to apply for re-election to the Football League. On target were Bobby Warrender (2) and Billy Hughes. Making his 261st and last senior appearance for City was utility player Matt Patrick.

1959: Billy Hughes was the marksman in a 1-0 home win over Gateshead watched by 9,033. City finished third in Division Four and won promotion for the first time in their history.

1968: A 1-1 home draw against Darlington with Tommy Ross the scorer in front of 3,963. City finished in the bottom four of the Fourth Division and had to apply for re-election for the second successive season.

1974: A Bootham Crescent crowd of 15,563 saw City draw 1-1 with Oldham Athletic and clinch promotion to the second tier (Championship) of the Football League for the first time in the club’s history. Chris Jones was the scorer and the line-up was: Crawford, Calvert, Burrows, Holmes, Swallow, Topping, Lyons, Woodward, Seal, Jones, Butler.

That day Phil Burrows who had not missed a game in five seasons, was voted City’s first ever Clubman of the Year.

Compiled by David Batters