Minstermen seek Oxford honours

York City manager Gary Mills takes his side to Oxford United this weekend with a stark warning from the club's board that there must be an immediate improvement in results. The Minstermen are currently eight games without a victory and now just six points above the relegation zone. Not since New Year's Day and a 3-0 home triumph over Burton Albion have York enjoyed a maximum points haul. Four draws and four defeats have since followed, with three of those in their last four games - during which they have twice conceded four times. Oxford will be bidding to avoid a third straight home defeat after losing to both Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers. The U's are actually on a poor run in front of their own supporters and five games without a win.

"Training has been good this week and we've all worked very hard, and that is something we will continue to do," manager Gary Mills told BBC Radio York. "The confidence level is fine. We're in a situation where we haven't won in a few games but we've all been there before. We had a good win against them here and played very well on the day. They get a decent crowd down there but we need to pick up results."

Oxford are able to include Tony Capaldi and Alfie Potter in their squad after recovering from illness. The experienced Michael Duberry has also returned to training but goalkeeper Ryan Clarke (shoulder), midfielder Peter Leven (knee) and strikers Jon-Paul Pittman (shoulder) and Justin Richards (knee) are sidelined.
Oxford United (probable): McCormick, Batt, Duberry, Wright, Davis, Potter, Chapman, Montrose, Rigg, Constable, Craddock

Eleven goals and a couple of sending-offs this season but has certainly enjoyed success against City before.

Manager Gary Mills could make changes following last week's dreadful home defeat to Barnet. Defender Lanre Oyebanjo is working his way back into contention after featuring in a midweek behind-closed-doors friendly with Hull City alongside the likes of Patrick McLaughlin, Jason Walker, David McDaid and John McReady. But Jon Challinor, Chris Doig, Oli Johnson and Michael Coulson remain sidelined, while long-serving defender David McGurk is back training but won't yet be considered.
York City (from): Ingham, Parslow, Smith, O'Connell, Fyfield, Obeng, Kerr, McGrath, Blair, Rankine, Chambers, Walker, Rodman, Allan, Potts, McLaughlin, McDaid, McReady, Oyebanjo, Musselwhite

Needs to rediscover the kind of form that witnessed him scoring in the 3-1 win against Oxford earlier in the season.

York have won three and drawn three of a dozen previous Football League visits to Oxford, with the last of them finishing goalless in March 2004. Four subsequent Conference trips have witnessed City drawing once and losing three times.

T. Harrington (Cleveland)

Oxford - Gillingham (A); York - Rotherham (A)

* YORK CITY FC * PLAY-OFF WINNERS 2012 * FA TROPHY WINNERS 2012 * YORK CITY FC * PLAY-OFF WINNERS 2012 * FA TROPHY WINNERS 2012 * YORK CITY FC * PLAY-OFF WINNERS 2012 * FA TROPHY WINNERS 2012 * YORK CITY FC * PLAY-OFF WINNERS 2012 * FA TROPHY WINNERS 2012 *

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