JAMES FORD admits his York City Knights side have gone off the boil - and has warned tonight's game won't give an easy route back to winning ways.

Ford's men take on expansion club Coventry Bears at Bootham Crescent (7.30pm) in a game that had to be rearranged from earlier in the season due to the Knights' notable progress in cup competitions - a knockout run which ended on Saturday as they lost 22-18 to a late try to Keighley in a thrilling iPro Sport Cup final in Blackpool.

That result meant they have won only once in their last four outings, following a blistering start to term which brought nine straight wins barring a battling defeat to Championship side Dewsbury in the Challenge Cup.

And, while they are favourites to return to winning ways, Ford reckons it will still be a sizeable challenge.

"I think we have dropped off," admitted the Knights head coach, whose side are in the midst of a hectic schedule.

"There are patches within performances that have been pretty good but we've found ways to let pressure off other teams, whether that be through little errors or penalties.

"At the start of the season we weren't doing that, we were pretty ruthless, and our contacts were more vicious.

"We know it's something we need to improve and it's about finding the right combinations and right solutions."

Ford also admits fatigue might be an issue tonight following Saturday's sucker punch, when York thought they had won the cup thanks to Ed Smith's late try only for Charlie Martin to hit back with a controversial winner two minutes from time.

There is also the significant matter of promotion rivals Rochdale visiting Bootham Crescent on Sunday - the Hornets coming with an unbeaten league record of eight wins and one draw.

"There's a little bit of concern," said Ford. "I was surprised the game was penned in for this midweek after what was always going to be an emotional day in Blackpool.

"But it is what it is. It is a challenge after Saturday but rugby league players like challenges.

"It's our job as a coaching team to lift the mood and make sure the boys are aware of the areas in which we have to improve. I trust them, and trust they will put in a better performance than on Saturday.

"There could be a bit of fatigue but we will find a way to perform to a better standard."

Asked if he had one eye on the visit of the leaders, Ford said: "No. If we get too far in front of ourselves we will get caught.

"They're both big games, both important fixtures, and we need to do our utmost to win them both.

"Coventry are a decent team and we have to show them enough respect and focus completely on this game until it is finished."

On his team's form in Saturday's final, Ford said: "As a group we didn't give ourselves the best chance of winning the game.

"We did not ask enough questions coming out of yardage and some of our end to sets were ordinary. When we did do things right we found a way to let the pressure off with a penalty or error. We gifted Keighley so much possession in the first half especially.

"It was a manful effort to still be in the game and it showed character and togetherness, but we need to be more consistent or ruthless in terms of not letting pressure off teams.

"In big games between two teams at the top end, there's not going to be a big difference. It will be fine margins - coming up with errors from a play-the-ball or dummy-half, or giving a penalty away for tackling the winger in the air.

"There's no blame attached on individuals - that's not our style, we're in this together - but in close games they do impact on the outcome."

He added: "This week is about us and doing things we did really well at the start of the season. When we do that, we're a pretty good team.

"It's a matter of time before we get back to where we were."