CRAWLEY Town will be without five senior players in their starting line-up for tomorrow’s Blue Square Premier clash at York City.

But former Minsterman Simon Rusk, who has been playing at right-back for the Red Devils, is believed to have a “75 per cent chance” of playing, according to manager Steve Evans, after a foot injury caused him to miss Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat at Luton.

While Rusk may return, fellow defenders Glenn Wilson (hamstring) and Chris Giles (back) are ruled out, while former Halifax centre-back Adam Quinn’s knee problem is also expected to restrict his involvement to the bench.

Midfielder Ben Smith and striker Charlie Ademeno are sidelined as well, leaving Evans light on numbers for the Bootham Crescent trip.

On-loan 18-year-old defender Dominic Collins, recruited from Preston ahead of Tuesday’s transfer deadline, is expected to retain his place after a promising debut at Luton.

Crystal Palace’s Kieran Djilali, another new temporary signing, should also continue on the wing.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Adam Barton, who has also joined Crawley on loan from Preston, is likely to be named as a substitute.

Crawley’s recent defensive problems have hindered their early-season progress.

Only Forest Green have shipped more goals than the Red Devils’ leaky backline in the Blue Square Premier.

They have conceded 13 times in their opening seven fixtures, which is one less than the Gloucester strugglers.

At the other end, Evans’ men have also only netted once on their travels so far – Jamie Cook’s winning goal at Cambridge United.

Cook has since left for Oxford but remains the team’s top scorer on three goals.

With Cook gone and Ademeno injured, former Wrexham forward Jefferson Louis is expected to lead the line on his own in a 4-5-1 formation.

The Sussex side have taken just one point from their last three fixtures having previously racked up consecutive victories against Forest Green (3-1), Wrexham (1-0) and Cambridge (1-0).

Prior to the Luton defeat, they drew 1-1 at home to Grays after suffering a shock 4-1 reverse against Gateshead at the Broadfield Stadium.


Match facts

* Crawley Town, who are one of only four clubs that City have met in each season since they dropped out of the Football League in 2004, have not won at York in their five visits.

* Three times this fixture has ended in a draw, including last term when the visitors came from two goals down.

* City’s victories were 3-1 in December 2004, when Lee Grant, Paul Robinson and Andy Bishop were on target, and 5-0 in January 2007, with Clayton Donaldson (2), Steve Bowey, Manny Panther and Craig Farrell on the scoresheet.

* The corresponding game last season ended 2-2 with Onome Sodje scoring twice. That day the side was under the caretaker managership of Neil Redfearn prior to the appointment of Martin Foyle.

• The line-up on November 23, 2008, was: Ingham, Purkiss, Parslow, McGurk, McWilliams, Rusk, Greaves, Hogg, Shepherd (Brodie), Dyer (Farrell), Sodje.


It happened on September 5

1949: City came from three goals down to draw 3-3 with Mansfield Town at Bootham Crescent with Bert Brenen, George Ivey and Terry Walker on target. The crowd for this Division Three North fixture was 8,563.

1959: A 2-1 home reverse to Halifax Town in the Third Division (League One). Terry Farmer was the scorer in front of 8,649 and it was City’s first home defeat since October 1958.

1964: Bradford City were beaten 5-2 at Bootham Crescent in Division Four with Dennis Walker and Paul Aimson each bagging a brace. Andy Provan was the other marksman. The crowd of 3,752 was the smallest of the campaign.

1970: City went down 3-2 at Northampton Town in the Fourth Division with Paul Aimson and Phil Boyer the scorers.

1992: After four straight wins to open the season, City lost 3-1 at Walsall in Division Three (League Two). Ray Warburton netted the consolation goal.

Stats compiled by David Batters