Bristol Rovers v York City: Experienced trio back in bid to halt the slide

York head south on the back of a horrendous eight-match losing sequence, and having equalled a club record of consecutive defeats previously set by struggling sides in 1976 and 1963.

The run has seen York, who have conceded 14 goals in their last three league matches, plumb new depths, with McNamara’s side losing 5-1 at home to Accrington Stanley last time out, four days after a 6-0 thrashing at Portsmouth.

It has left the Minstermen deep in trouble at the foot of League Two, with McNamara set to recall the experienced trio of Luke Summerfield, Dave Winfield and Russell Penn for today’s trip to the Memorial Stadium.

All this transpired after five players were handed their debuts in the heavy loss to Stanley with Danny Galbraith, Mark Kitching, Jordan Lussey, Stefan O’Connor and Kenny McEvoy starting and fellow new recruit Bradley Fewster coming off the bench.

York have fielded 33 different players in the league already this season.

To add to the concerns of a side in the middle of a crisis of confidence, availability options have compounded matters, with York without eight players today.

Michael Coulson, Jordan Lussey, Jake Hyde, Eddie Nolan, Emile Sinclair, Marvin McCoy, Jonathan Greening and Reece Thompson miss out.

McNamara, who has lost his first six games in charge since succeeding Russ Wilcox at Bootham Crescent, said: “People have got to win their one-on-one battles and I’m expecting to see a different team at Bristol.

“I know I’ve got a big job on, but I’m determined to put things right and I believe I can do and the club will kick on.”