YORK City manager Martin Gray admits he was “shocked” when he learned that the Minstermen could equal their longest winning run for three and a half years with victory tomorrow.

In April 2014, City won three games on the bounce, and Gray has suggested that victory in this weekend's National League North fixture against Kidderminster Harriers is essential.

The boss has said the most important outcome will be the win, but recognises that for some players – having endured less successful periods at the club – it may be difficult to instil a winning mentality.

He said: “We are changing it. I think whatever we do on the training ground has a purpose for it. It becomes infectious.

“The players are getting exactly what we’re all about now and they’re a bit more relaxed around us now as well.

“It’s a new environment for the players when a new management team comes in. A lot of these players have worked with a previous manager at previous clubs this season as well.

“It’s new for them and I think I’m starting to see some really good results on and off the pitch. I can only see that getting better.”

Gray knows that with victories and good performances come supporters – and he stressed the importance of claiming the points at Bootham Crescent and entertaining the fans.

He said: “We’ve got to get that. I was shocked – I’ve been used to winning, going on big runs with my previous club and I was blown away by that statistic.

“We’ve got to make sure this weekend that we give this crowd something to really be excited about.”

However, the joy of last week’s victory at Alfreton Town may have proved a bit much for the manager.

City twice took the lead, and were twice pegged back before Jon Parkin got the winning goal from the penalty spot in the 3-2 thriller – although the visitors still had keeper Adam Bartlett to thank for his save from 12 yards at the other end of the pitch.

Gray said: “It’s not what you want. I’d rather win 1-0 sometimes, just be solid.

“We’ve got to have that mentality because I always feel there are goals in the team, but equally, we’ve got to stop conceding soft goals and really get that focus of being hard to beat.”

The manner in which the game was played is a cause for concern for Gray, who admitted that it was too open for his liking. Kidderminster’s footballing style would also pose a threat to City, the manager believes, if they perform tomorrow as they did at Alfreton.

He warned: “We’re playing against a very good, strong Kidderminster team who use the ball well and make the pitch really big.

“We’ve got to make sure that we have a better shape and don’t play an open game.

“We’ve had a great opportunity this week to work on that, and hopefully we’ll be a lot better for it.”