SCOTT KERR believes it is time for players to “step up” to bring York City through the most testing period he has experienced in his time at Bootham Crescent.

As the 2-0 defeat against Torquay United last Saturday extended the Minstermen’s winless run to seven matches, the midfielder urged club and fans to stick together if they are to successfully negotiate this difficult spell.

Having experience of a struggling side – he joined manager Gary Mills at York with former club Lincoln City then floundering at the bottom of League Two – Kerr knows how important it is for the squad to pick up a victory as soon as possible.

“It’s hard. It’s like winning,” he said. “Once you start winning, it comes easily and you win and win and win. It’s the same with losing. You get in a rut and it becomes hard to get out of.

“When you cross that white line and you are out there, it’s a lonely place at times and the crowd are on your back and it’s hard but we have got to stick together as a team and a club.

“The fans have got to stay behind us and we go to Rochdale. That’s not going to be an easy game, but we travel well and we need three points.

“We need to pick up the three points sooner rather than later. It is a test at the moment. We need to regroup this week, put a few things right at training this week and go to a tough place in Rochdale.”The Torquay defeat means City have won just two of ten npower League Two matches at Bootham Crescent this season but Kerr is struggling to put his finger on why performances differ so markedly home and away.

“It just doesn’t seem to be happening for us at home at the moment. I don’t know what it is,” he added. “I don’t think it’s pressure. Obviously the fans are going to show their disappointment. They pay their money, they are going to show their feelings.

“It’s just hard for us. We have just got to try to get that win and then we can kick on. You need to win your home games and we are not doing that.”

One of the keys to turning home form around could be better communication between the players on the pitch.

With City instantly looking to have more direction when Kerr appeared as a second-half substitute, and began barking orders at players, the former Scarborough player conceded the side had to talk more on the pitch.

“It helps. If you are telling people, sometimes you can be their eyes,” he said. “You are telling them to ‘turn’ and it gives them that extra second to get away from defenders rather than having to get it and have a look.

“We do need to talk more. We don’t talk enough as a team. That’s a fact but we are all grown men in there and I think people need to step up and grow a pair.

“It’s hard but we have got to stick together and I am sure that win will come.”