YORK City manager Billy McEwan reckons the Conference play-off race is going to go right down to the wire.

The Minstermen boss, who takes his side to fifth-placed Burton Albion for a crunch clash tomorrow, believes it will be the last game of the season before the identity of the four teams contesting a place in the play-off final at Wembley on May 20 is revealed.

City are looking to pick up their 12th win on their travels after losing their last two home games against promotion rivals Stevenage and Gravesend & Northfleet at KitKat Crescent.

But, far from being downcast at their recent form, McEwan believes his squad have the mental strength to bounce back from their adversity.

And he declared his faith that his players wouldn't let City's play-off dreams die.

"We move on to the next game and I believe it (play-off race) will go to the last game of the season," McEwan said. "It's a certainty to go to the last game of the season before all the play-off positions are sorted out. There are lots of points to play for yet.

"We've got no divine right to walk back into the Football League. We've got to earn it and I believe you finish in the league where you deserve to finish.

"I am delighted with the way the players have played this season. They've been absolutely outstanding. They've been fantastic. I just don't want it all to blow up in their faces because they don't deserve that.

"But these players will not let it happen. There's too much character in that changing room. I know that."

However, McEwan said he was concerned at City's current scoring drought - Craig Farrell's free-kick against Exeter is the Minstermen's only strike in four games - and with the "silly goals" conceded.

Top scorer Clayton Donaldson has scored in just one of his last 12 games - albeit a hat-trick at Cambridge - and McEwan is keen for his side to get back on the goal trail.

Added McEwan: "The only way you win football matches is by scoring goals. From that point of view, we rattled five in at Cambridge and we've barely scored any since then.

"That's a concern for everyone, not just me. It's the players - the strikers and the midfield players and defenders who are up for set plays. Everyone has got a part to play in it. We know it is going to be tough. We have spoken about it.

"For these players, it's an opportunity for them. It may never come again. If they can get in the play-offs and maybe get to Wembley - it may be a chance they may never ever get again.

"I have said to them It's there for you if you want it. You have got the ability.' We have got the players to get us where we want to go. It's just having that belief and a bit of luck along the way.

"We have got to stop giving away silly goals. That has been our big negative issue this year. The goals we have given away have been cheap. It is those silly goals that have to be eradicated from our game and if we do that we will be okay."

The City manager will have to decide who to pair with David McGurk at centre-back now that Janos Kovacs has returned to Chesterfield after his loan spell ended last weekend. Danny Parslow, who was on the bench against Gravesend, would be favourite to start but Ross Greenwood can also fill in at the heart of the defence.

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