National League preview: Adam Lakeland calls for fan help as Halifax Town and York City can aid each other
Halifax Town manager Adam Lakeland is anxious for tonight's game against Rochdale not to feel like a home match for the visitors.
The Shaymen and York can do one another a favour on Tuesday by beating promotion rivals, but Halifax need to do it for themselves after a run of one win in six matches has dropped them out of the Conference play-off places.
Lakeland is not expecting any help from the treatment room, picking from the same squad which lost 4-1 at York on Saturday, so he wants it to come instead from the terraces.
With only 15 miles between the grounds, Dale will be well supported, so Lakeland wants Town to be too as they look to repeat October's 2-1 win at Spotland.
"When you lose on a Saturday, you want a Tuesday game, and you want the big games," he said.
"It was a big game on Saturday, nearly 8,000 people (watching). Tuesday's another derby against another top team and we need a big crowd.
"We brought 850 supporters to York and we thank them for their support, and we're disappointed we've not given them a bit more to shout about.
"But we need them and all their mates and all their uncles and their kids and grandparents to come along on Tuesday and get behind the team.
"It's going to be a difficult game, they'll no doubt bring a healthy following and it's important it doesn't feel like a home game for Rochdale.
"We've already beaten them once this season, so we know we're capable."
A point behind Dale from a game more, York are at sixth-placed Scunthorpe United, one of only two teams to have beaten them in the league this season.