IF York City perish on home turf to Torquay United tomorrow then they will equal an unenviable club record with home omens pointing to ultimate despair.

City go into the clash against the high-flying Gulls racked by four successive defeats at Bootham Crescent. A loss tomorrow would then equal the club worst record of five consecutive collapses on home territory.

The nap-unhappy sequence has been endured twice. The first occasion was in 1966-67 (losing to Barrow 2-1, Aldershot 2-1, Barnsley 3-0, Crewe 2-0 and Stockport 2-1). City eventually had to apply for re-election to the Football League at the end of that ill-starred campaign.

The second home low-five was suffered in 1998-99 (losing to Oldham 1-0, Walsall 2-1, Fulham 3-0, Wigan 3-1 and Chesterfield 2-1). Not only did that win-less streak account for then manager Alan Little -- he was sacked before the Wigan loss - the Minstermen also careered through the relegation trap-door into the basement division on the final day of that term away to Manchester City.

However, City have some way to go yet to match the worst run of games without a win.

The present City ranks have not tasted triumph for the last ten outings, but the club record is a sorry 17, taking in the final two fixtures of the 1986-87 season followed by the opening 15 duels of the 1987-88 campaign.

Updated: 10:36 Friday, March 12, 2004