VICTORY against Fleetwood Town will be a “massive boost” for York City as their hunt for a Blue Square Bet Premier play-off place begins in earnest.

Minstermen boss Gary Mills reckons the psychological impact a three-point haul from tonight’s match at Bootham Crescent (7.45pm) could bring would be a statement showing the rest of the league York are “still alive and kicking”.

Mills’ team are ten points behind fifth-placed Fleetwood in the table and know a victory, along with their three games in hand, would once again put their destiny in their own hands.

Defeat, however, and York would be four points adrift of the Lancashire-based side even if they won all their catch-up matches.

“We’re not going to hide from the fact,” Mills said.

“We know the difference between winning and losing (this match).

“We know that if we can get a result what a massive, massive, boost that is for us.

“If we lose, we know the job ahead will be tough. It doesn’t kill our season but we know that if we win that it could help us go up four places in the league and the table looks slightly different.

“We’ll have games in hand. We would only be seven points behind and the belief from everyone, not just in the dressing room but the football club as a whole, changes.

“There were a number of comments after the match against Wimbledon which said ‘we are not going to be able to do it now’. You can’t make rash judgements and decisions based on one game.

“We might win the next ten and lose the 11th.

“It’s is psychological and that can make or break teams. I am aware of that. But win tonight and people know that York City are still alive and kicking.”

Having addressed the need to pick up their form away from home, Mills stressed that powerful performances at Bootham Crescent are pivotal to the Minstermen’s prospects.

Mills has yet to taste League defeat at home as City manager, having won four and drawn two of six matches in charge.

Of the importance of home comfort, he added: “There’s no doubt about it. Our home form has been very good since I joined the club and deservedly so.

“I can’t remember any time during the League games where I thought we were lucky to get a result.

“We have deserved every point we have got.

“We need to start picking up more points away from home but that just shows the importance of keeping on winning at home. We have to maintain that level and that starts against Fleetwood.”

Meanwhile, with City without a first-team game on Saturday because of Crawley Town’s FA Cup fifth round tie at Old Trafford, the youth team match against Rotherham United has been switched to Bootham Crescent.

Supporters are welcome to turn up and support the Minstermites. Admission is free and the game will kick off at 11am. The players’ parents, who run the youth team fundraising committee, will be organising a raffle on the day and donations will also be welcome.

City boss Mills has backed the switch.