DARREN Edmondson has called on the York City faithful to get behind the players for tomorrow's home clash with Macclesfield.

Sections of the crowd took to chanting for City boss Terry Dolan to get out during Tuesday's 4-1 defeat by Kidderminster Harriers - with some even waving white handkerchiefs.

But Edmondson, who returns to the Minstermen's starting line-up after a thigh/groin injury, believes this is only adding to the pressure on the players.

"I think for the younger players it can't help," he said.

"But the fans pay their money to voice their opinions and the only way they can do it is when there is a game on.

"If they want to shout for the manager to be out that is up to them, but really I feel it should be done after the game, not during, because if they are shouting things at the manager then they are not getting behind the team.

"Why not for the 90 minutes get behind the team, then see what happens?"

The 29-year-old right-back says he every sympathy for the fans' frustration as they pay to watch the game, but he feels the comments just do not help out anyone.

"The majority of the time they are behind us, it is purely frustration from their point of view that they are shouting these things," he said.

"No-one wants to hear it, obviously the manager doesn't want to hear it, we don't want to hear it and I'm sure the fans don't want to say it.

"I can't say to them don't do it. They pay good honest money to watch and they can voice their opinions - they might be booing me tomorrow - but I just think it is detrimental to the team."

Edmondson admits the players still have to perform, but he feels if City get off to a flying start this could be vital to getting the crowd on-side.

"If we get off to a good start, the crowd will be behind us and that lifts everybody," he added.

"At home it is about how we start. If we start really well for 20 minutes, it will give the young lads a lift and they will start a bit brighter and we can go on from there.

"It's purely about confidence. Individual errors are made through a lack of confidence.

"Sometimes if you are confident the first thing you do as a defender is clear the ball or knock it back to Alan (Fettis), when you aren't as confidence you dither a little bit, waste that extra second and get tackled, then one thing leads to the other.

"We just need to get the confidence back through the lads and then we can win a couple."

As well as the return of Edmondson, boss Dolan will also have Graham Potter and Alex Mathie available again, while Matt Hocking, Mark Maley and Gary Hobson have shown no reactions to their injuries.

Potter, who has been missed on the left flank, is looking forward to his return after suffering a groin/stomach injury.

While York after suffered a roller-coaster of results this season, Macclesfield have also struggled, leading them to part services with their manager Gil Prescott.

Ex-West Ham midfielder Kevin Keen has taken up the player-caretaker manager role, with the aim of taking 17th-placed Macclesfield back up the table.

However the club do have an impressive record on their travels, taking nine points out of a possible 15 this season. And Macclesfield have enjoy no ground more than Bootham Crescent - they hold the proud record as the only league club who have won all their games there, with three wins.

Updated: 09:18 Friday, October 26, 2001