JAMES FORD reckons this year's Betfred League One is the most competitive it has ever been - and has backed his York City Knights side to get even better in their bid to top the lot.

Three of the Knights' four league games so far have been decided by only two points, with similar close scorelines elsewhere in the comp suggesting many of the top-half teams are pretty well-matched.

Ford, who reckons it must currently be "amazing being a supporter in League One given the calibre of games", is expecting yet another thriller away to Newcastle Thunder tomorrow (3pm) as his team seek a third consecutive victory over promotion rivals on the road - results that have been obtained despite "not being on top form at all".

"There are probably 10 teams that have good promotion aspirations, and rightly so," said Ford, who includes the Tynesiders in that list.

"The likes of Toronto and Toulouse (promoted in 2017 and 2016 respectively) aren't in the competition but that probably makes it more competitive. Toronto were that much better than everyone else - well, most weeks - that it was almost ridiculous.

"Scorelines (so far this year) are very close, and there are good teams in there. Games I've watched, like the Doncaster v Newcastle game (22-20), have been alive in the last set of six. Teams have had to defend at the very end to take the points.

"It must be absolutely amazing being a supporter in League One watching games of this calibre and this closeness, and long may it continue.

"That said, hopefully we can win by a few more points so we can be a bit more comfortable on the bench."

The Knights have so far battled to three victories from their four league outings, their sole defeat coming to a penalty after the final hooter against title favourites Bradford Bulls. They also shocked Championship side Swinton in the snow at Featherstone, in the Challenge Cup fourth round.

Yet Ford said: "I don't think we've been on top form at all.

"We've played with spirit, desire, fight, and that attitude, that character, has been enough to get us through some tough games.

"But in terms of our execution with the ball, our shape around certain plays, we've been a long way off what we expect at York and what this group can play at.

"It's exciting for me as a coach that we've beaten sides like Oldham and Doncaster away without really playing to our potential."

Asked if that was a warning for rival teams, Ford said: "No not really. It's my job to get the absolute maximum from every single player at the club.

"We're constantly striving for that, and the players know that. Once we get it, we will look at what we can get another one per cent out of."

Ford, meanwhile, is hopeful another noisy travelling army will follow his team to Kingston Park tomorrow.

"The supporters were fantastic at Doncaster," he said, referring to the 16-14 victory over the previously unbeaten Dons. "They played a big part in that performance.

"It looked to me like we at least equalled the number of Doncaster supporters, or maybe had more. It would be great for that to be a regular thing.

"It's great to see numbers growing and I know the players won't let them down. They will never give in. As a rugby league supporter, that's one of the things you want to see - a group of blokes who have so much pride in the jumper and work hard for each other."

Ford, meanwhile, has praised tomorrow's opponents for their improvement on and off the field since switching from Gateshead - saying it would be great for rugby league if the North Easterners rose up the tiers.

"It should be a really healthy crowd (tomorrow)," he said. "Newcastle have come on in leaps and bounds as a club in recent years and they have potential to keep going.

"They have good facilities, good backing and investment, a good academy side, and links with the universities. They're doing good things up there.

"It would be good to see them establish themselves as a Championship club in three to five years - it would be great for rugby league."