'Back us' is the rallying call of York City boss Neil Thompson ahead of tonight's Auto Windscreen Shield first round northern section duel with Hull City.

With the Fans Against Craig's Tyranny supporters' group urging a boycott of tonight's match, Thompson has called on the City faithful to get behind his team and set them on a road that leads to Wembley.

"What do we need to be successful? We need everyone to be together and get behind everyone," said Thompson.

"We know we haven't performed as well as we would like but we have had a clean sweep this year, we have got rid of a lot of players.

"When Alan (Little) left people were crying out for change. We have had that big change and while we would all like it to gel together straight away it takes time.

"Eight clean sheets this season compared to six in the whole of last year tells you we have addressed that problem and when you are building a new team that is where you start.

"We are well aware we can pass the ball better, we are well aware that we have got to score more goals and if people think protesting is going to help then that is up to them.

"But I feel everyone has got to get together.

"The players are still human and if they are getting criticised it effects some players more than others.

"But everyone reacts to encouragement, that points you in the right direction.

"Let's all get behind each other and go in the right direction, and I think we are going in the right direction.

"We know we have got a responsibility to put in a good performance and the better the atmosphere the better the performance you will get, I am sure. It is a two-way thing."

City and Hull have clashed twice in the league already this season with nothing to separate them after both matches finished 1-1.

But York will be looking to ensure it is a case of third time lucky, especially as Hull manager Warren Joyce, clearly with one eye on Saturday's FA Cup tie with Chelsea, has indicated he is to field a team of mainly reserves.

The Football League are said to be monitoring the situation but included in the Hull squad are goalkeeper Matt Baker, yet to start a first team game, youth team captain Adam Bolder, youth team teammate Ben Morley and three 16-year-olds in striker Gary Bradshaw, midfielder Steve Burton and centre-back Mark Lafferty.

None of the players named by Joyce, including ex-Scarborough duo Steve Swales and Gareth Williams, featured in Saturday's 4-0 win over Exeter, although the Tigers' top scorer, John Eyre, could feature after missing the last four weeks through injury.

Thompson, however, said he would be taking nothing for granted and refused to belittle an often criticised competition.

"It as a fixture that gives you a chance of going to Wembley and if that is not an incentive then what is?" said the City chief.

As previously reported in the Evening Press, this year's Auto Windscreens Shield competition will provide the setting for a trial run of the 'ten yard rule'.

Manager Neil Thompson said his players have been briefed on the new rule change.

"We have passed around the information on it," he said.

"It may be a good thing to stop all the arguments from players but it will get a good airing in this competition and we will have to see how it goes.

"Referees have got to be sensible and not use it willy-nilly.

"And the players have got to be sensible and realise this is an experiment but an instruction that will be carried out."

A similar rule already exists in rugby, whereby the referee has the power to advance a free-kick ten yards.

In football, there will be four instances when a referee will be able to implement the rule.

They are for dissent, for delaying the restart of the game, for failing to retreat ten yards and for any other form of unsporting behaviour.

All these offences have to be cautionable for the referee to advance the free-kick, which can only be done once at any misdemeanour. The ball can be taken into the penalty area where it remains a free-kick but it cannot go into the six yard box.

It will be the first time the rule has been used in professional football anywhere in the world, although it was trialled in a local league on the island of Jersey.

In the past, the Auto Windscreens Shield served as a testing ground for the 'golden goal' rule used in the extra time of cup competitions.

City v Hull City Match Points

The clubs have met twice before in the competition.

In 1983/4, in what was then the Associate Members Cup, Hull won a first round tie at Bootham Crescent 2-1 with goals from Alan Taylor and York-born Steve McLaren who is now Alex's Ferguson's right hand man at Old Trafford. Steve Senior netted the consolation goal.

At the time City were fourth division leaders and the Tigers in the old third and the attendance of 5,837 remains the biggest to watch City in the competition.

The other meeting was n 1992/93 in the Autoglass Trophy when in a preliminary round group match at York the game ended 0-0 in front of 2,253.

Tonight's Teams

York City: from Mimms, Jones, Hocking, Sertori, Fairclough, Jordan, Hulme, Fox, Alcide, J Williams, Ormerod, Dawson, Conlon, Howarth, M Williams, Turley.

Hull City: from Baker, French, Swales, Williams, Greaves, Perry, Morgan, Quigley, Bolder, Harris, Betsy, Morley, Bradshaw, Burton, Lafferty, Eyre.

Boxing Day knockout for Chris

York City will be without their towering skipper Chris Fairclough for the match at Hartlepool on Boxing Day.

Fairclough, an ever-present at the heart of the York defence this campaign, has earned a one match ban after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Swansea.

It was thought his ban could have ruled him out for the intriguing visit of ex-York boss Alan Little and his Southend side to Bootham Crescent.

However, that match has been switched to Friday, December 17, and Fairclough's starts from the day after. commence the day after.

In better news for City, manager Neil Thompson remains hopeful Wayne Hall could be available for selection come the weekend as he recovers from a heel injury.

Midfielder Steve Agnew is also being pencilled in for a return to reserve action next week as he recovers from a neck injury.

"Steve has just started doing some light jogging and he feels a lot happier with it," said Thompson. "It is a frustrating time but he is chomping at the bit to get back."

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