SECOND-BOTTOM Lewes will travel to York City having lost their last four league games without scoring a goal.

The Rooks have gone down 3-0 to Stevenage, been on the end of 2-0 and 1-0 defeats to derby rivals Eastbourne and been beaten 2-0 at Woking since their last league triumph – a 2-1 success away to Salisbury on December 9.

Last season’s Conference South champions have struggled since promotion, winning just four of their 26 Blue Square Premier fixtures, enjoying other rare victories against Oxford (2-1), Forest Green Rovers (3-2) and Grays (2-0).

The East Sussex side currently lie ten points from safety with only Northwich, who are two points behind with two games in hand, preventing them from propping up the table.

Lewes’ respective tallies of 18 goals scored and 50 conceded makes them the league’s worst-performing club at both ends of the pitch while manager Kevin Keehan has now used 39 different players.

That statistic has been necessitated by the departure of last season’s whole squad, bar Anthony Barness, following the surprise summer sacking of Steve King.

Former Tranmere and Blackpool striker Scott Taylor is still the Rooks’ leading marksman with five goals despite leaving for Staines Town in November.

Midfielder Michael Standing, formerly with Grays, will also be missing tomorrow, having been sent off during Tuesday night’s 3-3 FA Trophy draw at home to Havant and Waterlooville.

His place is expected to be taken by on-loan Bristol Rovers striker Josh Klein-Davies, who is returning from a one-match suspension.

Klein-Davies’ availability is likely to mean one of Lewes’ loan signings from Barnet switching to the left wing from attack with Keiron St-Aimie the likely candidate, leaving Elliott Charles to continue up front.

Midfielder Ollie Rowland is a long-term absentee after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in November and defender Steve Elliott is also currently sidelined.


Match facts

This is the first meeting between the clubs.

It happened on January 17

1952: A 1-1 draw at Scunthorpe United with Billy Fenton on the scoresheet. Opposing goalkeepers for this Division Three North fixture were brothers, Des Thompson for City, and George Thompson for United.

1953: Billy Fenton netted in a 1-1 draw at Mansfield Town so scoring for the sixth successive game. City remained third in the Northern Section.

1970: Phil Boyer was on the score-sheet in a 1-1 draw at Scunthorpe and City, who had Barry Jackson sent off, were 14th in Division Four.

1976: West Bromwich Albion won 1-0 at Bootham Crescent in front of 5,628. Ex-Manchester United centre-half Steve James made his debut for City, who were at the foot of Division Two (Championship).

1998: A 0-0 draw at Gillingham and City were tenth in Division Two (League One).

2004: Lee Bullock was the marksman in a 2-1 reverse at Northampton Town which left City tenth in Division Three (League Two).

Compiled by David Batters