TAMWORTH will arrive at York City tomorrow hoping to avoid equalling their longest run of defeats in eight years.

The Lambs have lost their last four games and another setback against City would leave them just one short of the six successive reverses they suffered back in October 2009.

That run included a 3-2 home defeat against the Minstermen when Andy Ferrell, Richard Brodie and Djoumin Sangare were on target for the visitors, while then player-boss Gary Mills was on the home bench at the age of 47.

Andy Morrell – a former Wrexham manager like Mills – is now in charge at the 13th-placed outfit who, having been knocked out of the FA Cup at Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Stafford Rangers, have racked up a hat-trick of league losses to FC United of Manchester (3-1), Gainsborough (2-1) and Alfreton (3-2) – all teams positioned in the bottom half of the National League North table.

Tamworth have also failed to win any of their last six away fixtures since a 2-1 triumph at Leamington on their first road trip of the season back in August.

Only one goal, meanwhile, has been scored in eight-and-a-half hours of away football by Morrell’s men – Connor Taylor’s 52nd-minute consolation against FC United.

In fact, only bottom club North Ferriby, with three, boast a lower tally in the division than Tamworth’s five goals on their travels.

Former Forest Green forward Reece Styche remains a threat, however, with the 28-year-old Gibraltar international having struck eight times in 11 appearances this term, including a brace in last weekend’s defeat to Alfreton, who prevailed thanks to Craig Westcarr’s 89th-minute winner.

Midfielder Aman Verma limped out of the action with an ankle injury, but is expected to feature at Bootham Crescent. Callum Powell is set to be in contention too, having missed out last weekend due to a head injury, but a dislocated toe will keep Jack Lane sidelined.

Lambs boss Morrell was also watching Tuesday night’s Birmingham Senior Cup tie against Hednesford, having handed several fringe players a chance to impress.

A 2-1 defeat against the Evo-Stik League premier division outfit, though, suggested few took that opportunity.

Despite their recent struggles, Tamworth remain eight points clear of the relegation zone and just three points adrift of the play-off places.