A UNITED front will help York City prevail against Luton Town as play-off football returns to Bootham Crescent, Minstermen manager Martin Foyle has declared.

As his side prepare to face the Hatters in the Blue Square Premier play-off semi-final first leg tonight, Foyle has urged the club to stand together as one.

With captain Michael Ingham likely to lead out his men into the biggest crowd seen at York in seven years, the City boss reckons a positive attitude from everyone can help extend a fabulous season of home results, which have seen just two defeats in 27 matches.

“We need to make sure everyone is on board,” Foyle said. “We are all in this together. We are a team and that includes the fans. We are all looking to forward to it.

“The attitude of the players has been spot-on all season and they are champing at the bit. There have been a lot of positives this year, with the FA Cup run and results in the league, and the fans’ support is great – it is much needed.

“True supporters will understand how nervy the opening 20 to 25 minutes can be and, as long as it is positive, the players will respond. It is the business end of the season. We are up there on merit.

“We have not fluked our way in. We’ve been consistent all the way. We know it is going to be hard but if we can take Luton out, who are the strongest side in the play-offs, then anything can happen.”

Foyle has no injury concerns ahead of Luton’s arrival and added that a good week in training meant he’d had to make some “awkward decisions” regarding his team selection.

While he is keen to take a first leg lead to Kenilworth Road on Bank Holiday Monday, the City boss also maintained it was important not to travel south facing a deficit.

“You want to go to Luton not losing,” he said. “That’s not being negative. We will be playing the right side to unlock Luton Town but if it is 0-0 they will be under massive pressure.

“We are trying to win a game (tonight). I would like to win 4-0, but are we going to? It is going to be tight and the second leg is going to be very, very interesting.”

Foyle added he was encouraged after reviewing City’s two performances against Luton this season – a 1-1 draw in October followed by a 0-0 share-all in February.

“We have played some good football,” he said.

“Luton away was in a gale-force wind and we dominated the first half and they dominated the second. They were exciting games and they are quality.

“Most of their players could be in League Two or League One. But, as long as we turn up, we can beat anyone on our day.

“We need to make sure we are spot on.”

Foyle also confirmed that he had heard, and mentioned to his squad, rumours of Luton’s confidence of being at Wembley for the play-off final on May 16.

However, the City boss stressed his Hatters’ counterpart Richard Money was not the architect.

“It’s been mentioned,” the Minstermen manager said. “I get on well with Richard Money and he is too experienced to do that. He’s been in the game long enough.

“We take it with a pinch of salt and we can only concentrate on ourselves.”

He continued: “There has been a good tempo in training and we have worked hard. We have certainly stepped up a level. We are looking forward to tonight.”