Bristol Rovers 0 York City 0: Crucial double-header could see Minstermen claw their way to safety

Promoted last May, York, with five games left, are on the brink of a return to the Blue Square Bet Premier, a move which would have calamitous financial consequences with the loss of £750,000 in Football League funding, a huge sum to clubs in the bottom tier.

York, 23rd in the table after 16 matches without a victory, are three points from safety and home wins over Plymouth today (20th in the table) and Accrington (21st) on Saturday are essential if they are to have any hope of survival.

They have 42 points with 15 to play for, but the position at the bottom with 10 teams trying to avoid the last two places is so tight they probably need 50 to stay up.

York would have had two more points but for brilliant goalkeeping by Steve Mildenhall, who caught and punched away every cross in addition to denying Chris Smith and Michael Coulson with stunning second-half saves. By comparison, Michael Ingham did not have a save to make.

Coulson made a welcome return after being out since October 23 with a cruciate ligament injury. He added much needed power to York’s attack while Richard Cresswell was impressive in the new 4-5-1 formation.

Jack O’Connell had another fine game at left-back, his centres causing major problems.

York manager Nigel Worthington said: “I was extremely pleased with the performance. I have been looking for competitive spirit and energy but haven’t seen it (until Saturday). It was a very good day’s work.”

Bristol Rovers: Mildenhall; Smith, McChrystal, Brown, Parkes; Anyinsah, Woodwards, O’Toole, Harrison (Broghammer 57); Richards (Hitchcock 80), Brunt (Tounkara 70). Unused substitutes: Gough, Paterson, McDonnell, Clarke.

York City: Ingham; Oyebanjo, Smith, McGurk, O’Connell; Carson, Reed, Parslow, Platt, Chambers (Coulson 73); Cresswell. Unused substitutes: Jameson, Walker, McDaid, Blair, Fyfield, McLaughlin.

Referee: D Whitestone (Northampton).

Man of the match: Steve Mildenhall.