Right fling manoeuvres are being demanded by York City manager Alan Little against newly-buoyant Lincoln City.

A week ago the tale of two City's was far different. The men from York were undefeated in six games, Lincoln were still trying to escape from a trough of five defeats in six games.

Now on the eve of tomorrow's tussle at Bootham Crescent the hosts have suffered two reverses. In contrast, Lincoln have emerged with credit but no points from entertaining Stoke City and then toppled Manchester City in midweek.

Declared Little: "It's put it right time tomorrow.

"Now is the time to have a positive response to bounce back to the sort of form we have shown before going into the game at Millwall."

Little stressed he had no qualms about last week's loss at Chesterfield, where his men had dominated the game and were desperately unlucky not to at least muster a point.

But Millwall was a jarring story. He added: "There were five or six players under par and they've got to take a look in the mirror and reflect on how poorly they played.

"We had the lion's share of the game at Millwall after the opening 20 minutes and wasted good chances. But we did not play well. It was as if we went into it thinking it was going to be easy.

"We will have to bounce back quickly tomorrow."

The rubber-ball mission will be attempted by transfer-listed Gary Himsworth, himself hit by illness these last two days.

The utility man, who has not figured in senior action since last April after being dogged by injury in the pre-season, is on stand-by to answer City's left-back crisis.

Hamstring injury victim Wayne Hall is out for at least three weeks. Meanwhile player-coach Neil Thompson is out despite showing a slight improvement on his Achilles injury.

Said Little: "Gary is a senior pro'. He knows the game, knows our system and he has never let us down.

"Even after he went on the list I always said I would not hesitate playing him if the opportunity arose."

Himsworth's first outing of the season is likely to be the only change from the side that played so patchily at the New Den. "I don't think the time is right for wholesale changes," said Little.

Cash-troubled Lincoln- 17 players are said to have been put up for sale - are bubbling after their home midweek triumph over Manchester City.

The atmosphere at the end of the 2-1 victory watched by an 8,000-plus crowd was likened to a cup final by one observer. And that followed a 6,000-strong crowd that witnessed a brave display against then leaders Stoke City before succumbing 2-1.

But the Red Imps are forced into three key switches in personnel. Touted defender Kevin Austin, for whom Lincoln turned down a £300,000 bid from Port Vale, serves a one-match ban as does midfielder john Finnigan. And left-back John Barnett is also out with ankle ligament damage.

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