York City v Accrington Stanley:Wilcox is confident of avoiding an unwanted York record

HISTORY of the worst possible kind beckons for York City today but manager Russ Wilcox has seen enough from his players over the past two-and-a-half months to suggest they can stay out of the record books, writes Richard Sutcliffe.
Russ Wilcox.Russ Wilcox.
Russ Wilcox.

The Minstermen host Accrington Stanley knowing that a failure to win will see a long-standing club record of 14 home matches without a win equalled.

It is something that no-one at Bootham Crescent wants to see happen but Wilcox admits the Lancastrians will be a tough opponent.

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The City chief said: “Accrington will come here in good nick. They had a big win at Portsmouth recently, while last week they got a very good draw against top-of-the-table Wycombe.

“It will be tough but we have shown in our away games what we can do. So, now we have to take that away form – we are unbeaten in five games away from Bootham Crescent, and that is after being behind in the last three – into our home games.

“I don’t think the players are feeling the pressure or anything like that. Performances have been fairly good. Okay, not great or we would have a couple of wins. But they have been fairly good.

“We can’t hide away from the fact that we haven’t got a home win all season. But I have confidence in this group and I am confident we can end this run very soon.”

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York’s record run of winless games at Bootham Crescent was set during the 1981-82 Fourth Division season.

Despite those travails at home between September and mid-February, City still managed to finish comfortably clear of the re-election zone in 17th.

A similar standing in May next year would, no doubt, be snapped up now by the Minstermen if offered and Wilcox believes a “benchmark” was set in last week’s battling 2-2 draw at Bury.

He added: “It was a great fightback and one that showed the great character we possess.

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“Against a team who should be at the top of the division, we did very well and, to me, set a benchmark for the rest of the season.

“That is what we are capable of doing so let’s do it more often,” he said

York travel to Carlisle United on Sunday for another crunch clash but Wilcox insists the team sitting one place above his side in the table aren’t in his thinking just yet.

He said: “We deal with Accrington first and only then do we turn the page and see what we have got for the next game. You can’t focus on both games, even if they are so close together.”

Last six games: York City LLWDLD, Accrington Stanley WLDWLD.

Referee: D Bond (Lancashire).

Last time: York City 1 Accrington Stanley 1; April 12, 2014; League Two.