STRUGGLING Stevenage Borough have been ditching players ahead of their trip to bottom of the table York City tomorrow.

Teddy Sheringham's men haven't won in seven matches and are 19th in the table following their 0-0 home draw with Barnet last weekend.

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United hero, who took over the reins at Broadhall Way in the summer, has responded by removing two veteran defenders from his squad.

Mark Hughes departed The Boro on Wednesday, while Jamie McCombe, brother of out-of-favour Minsterman John, also left by mutual consent yesterday.

The 33-year-old had made 16 appearances for Stevenage but last featured in the 3-2 loss to promotion contenders Plymouth Argyle on January 16.

The club's last win came in early December in a 2-1 victory at Wimbledon. Since then, they have drawn with Accrington (1-1), lost at Crawley (2-1), been defeated by Dagenham & Redbridge (3-1), held Lleyton Orient (2-2) and gone down at Mansfield (2-1) before the Plymouth and Barnet results.

York managed a 2-2 draw at Stevenage in September, with Eddie Nolan's only goal for City giving them a first half lead.

Stevenage responded with two goals in three second-half minutes - headers from Chris Whelpdale and Charlie Lee.

Luke Summerfield's curling shot, with 16 minutes remaining, levelled the scores and York hung on to a point after keeper Scott Flinders saved Brett Williams' spot kick.

Sheringham is likely to continue with Offrande Zanzala, who made his debut in the Barnet draw after beginning a month long loan spell from Championship outfit Derby County.

“His attitude, his work rate and his desire is there to see for everybody and I think he is going to do very well for us," Sheringham said.

“It was an old fashioned centre-forward's performance and I like that about him. That is what caught my eye and it is definitely what we have needed at our football club and I am delighted to have him.”

Luke Wilkinson, a central defender who signed for the club from League Two rivals Luton Town, also came in for praise from Sheringham following his Barnet display and paved the way for McCombe and Hughes' departure.

Stevenage, though, have relied on Whelpdale for their goals, the former Peterborough United winger leading the club's scoring charts with nine.

The 29-year-old, though, hasn't scored since netting a hat-trick in the 4-3 win over Morecambe at the end of November and he did not play in the Barnet draw because of a groin injury.

It is a knock that could also see him miss the bus for the Minstermen trip while teenager Ben Kennedy is also out until at last March following knee surgery.