YORK City manager Martin Foyle is demanding six points from his side’s next two home games.

The Minstermen boss feels tonight’s Bootham Crescent meeting with relegation-threatened Barrow could be the key fixture in his quest to avoid finishing fifth in the Blue Square Premier standings with bottom-of-the-table and already doomed Grays the next visitors in four days’ time.

Rushden and Diamonds, currently one point ahead of City in fourth place, travel to Mansfield tonight before setting off for Wrexham on Saturday.

Justin Edinburgh’s men will then play host to second-placed Luton on the final day of the season when City visit leaders Stevenage.

The division’s top five cannot now be caught but, despite being guaranteed a play-off place, Foyle is still placing significant importance on this evening’s contest.

He said: “We want six points from the next two home games and then we’ll have to see how Rushden get on. We are looking for a win tonight in what we regard as an important match and then Saturday should take care of itself, although we will not be taking anything for granted against Grays.”

Foyle is considering whether to recall midfielder Neil Barrett against Barrow having rested him on the bench for Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Eastbourne, adding: “He has fantastic energy and I think we missed that at the weekend.”

The City chief is also expected to field top scorer Richard Brodie despite the 33-goal marksmen being three bookings short of a three-match ban.

Brodie is likely to be pitched up against notorious wind-up merchant Paul Jones in Barrow’s defence.

The City boss said: “Jones has done very well recently for Barrow and has a pop at everybody.

“But Paul Lorraine at AFC Wimbledon is worse than him in that respect and Brodes handled him very well last week. He played him with a smile on his face and Lorraine was substituted at half-time.”

Djoumin Sangare remains the only injury absentee as Foyle targets his first victory over Barrow in five attempts.

The Cumbrians have previously knocked City out of the Setanta Shield and FA Trophy in the past two seasons and fought out two 0-0 draws in the league with Foyle at the helm.

“I haven’t had a home game against them yet and am looking forward to it,” the City chief pointed out. “I also want the players to prove Saturday’s performance was a one-off.”

But Foyle feels Barrow’s players will have a doubled-edged incentive tonight, adding: “I think they will be at their strongest because they want to ensure they stay up and the players will also be fighting to secure places for their FA Trophy final against Stevenage.”

With Daniel Parslow out of favour, goalkeeper Michael Ingham is likely to carry on as skipper despite vice-captain David McGurk’s presence.

Foyle operates a similar policy with the armband as he does with team selection, where players performing well keep their starting places even when others become available again after injury or suspension.

The City manager said: “We have got some really, really good pros here and I thought it was the right time to give ‘Inghy’ the armband when David McGurk and Dan Parslow were out of the side. You have to be fair to people and I don’t see any reasons for changing as long as everybody stays calm and collected at the back.

“He’s been great as captain and it’s calmed him down a bit too. His organisation and concentration levels have been good.

“You don’t need an armband, however, to organise and we still need captains all over the pitch, of course.”

• City’s North Riding Senior Cup final against hosts Stokesley will take place on Tuesday, April 20, kick-off 7.30pm.