INSIDE information has York City confident of making a swift return to winning ways against in-form Rochdale on Saturday.

Still smarting at last Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Lincoln, City boss Chris Brass and his assistant Lee Nogan have been carefully planning the downfall of the Dale all week.

Helping the City plotters is the fact Nogan played under new Rochdale boss Alan Buckley for two successful seasons at Grimsby Town at the end of the 1990s.

Nogan's first hand experience of Buckley's tactical thinking should ensure no surprises for the primed and ready Minstermen.

"Alan Buckley always likes to play 4-4-2 and he was rigid on that," said Nogan, who made two visits to Wembley, won promotion to Division One and lifted the Auto Windscreens Shield under the Rochdale chief's guidance at Grimsby.

"That's how he liked to play and he just used to say we had to get better at it rather than change for the opposition.

"He was set in his ways in that respect, but we all knew what we had to do and so there were no complaints. He plays football the right way and always insists on playing football.

"Apparently, Rochdale have gone a little bit more direct. Maybe he has had a look at it and given that it's the Third Division he has perhaps thought that's the way to go.

"It could come down to personnel too. If he hasn't got the right players in then maybe he has felt it necessary to go longer at times.

"But I'm certain he will play football too and that should make for a good spectacle."

Despite the fact it could put his own place in City's starting line-up under threat, Nogan said he welcomed the return to fitness of last season's top scorer Jon Parkin and summer signing Aron Wilford.

Both are expected to be named in the squad to face Rochdale tomorrow.

Nogan, who has bagged two goals so far, has established a useful partnership with Liam George up front but admits competition for places is necessary for success.

"It's always nice to get off the mark and to have a couple of goals in the bag is great," he said.

"I think it has been a bit difficult for me and Liam because we are the only two fit strikers with experience.

"Bryan Stewart has come in and done well when called upon but he is only young and we don't want to rush him.

"Hopefully, Jon and Aron will soon be available to give us the competition that we need to keep everyone on their toes."

The collection buckets that helped saved York City from extinction last season will be out in force at Bootham Crescent tomorrow, when the Minstermen take on Rochdale.

However, the collection is not being organised for the benefit of City. Independent supporters' group the Friends of Bootham Crescent will be rattling the buckets in aid of the supporters' trust at Notts County who are on the verge of bankruptcy with administrators warning the Magpies could go under at the start of next week.

Saturday's squads:

York City: (possible) Ovendale, Edmondson, Wise, Brass, Wood, Hope, Merris, Ward, Dunning, Bullock, Nogan, George. Subs from: Porter, Downes, Brackstone, Parkin, Wood Wilford.

Rochdale (possible): Gilks, Evans, Burgess, Grand, Simpkins, Bertos, McClare. Betts. Doughty, Connor, Townson. Subs from: Edwards, McCourt, Hill, Warner, Duffy.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)

Kick off: 3pm

Match points:

<bullet/> THE Lancashire club are City's most frequently met opponents in the Football League. This is the 50th season the sides have met in the competition and this will be the 99th League game between the clubs.

<bullet/> For the record City have won 42 of the previous encounters, Rochdale 38 with 18 draws and the Minstermen have scored 155 goals to 145.

<bullet/> Rochdale have won 15 times and drawn ten on their visits to York and have only lost once in their last seven trips here.

<bullet/> Last term the game was drawn 2-2 with Keith Graydon (penalty) and Darren Edmondson the scorers. The line-up on April 12, 2003 was: Ingham, Edmondson, Smith, Brass, Hobson, Potter, Bullock, Cooper, Nogan, Shandran, Graydon.

<bullet/> The Lancastrians have recorded some big wins at Bootham Crescent notably 7-0 in 1938-39 and 5-0 in 1937-38. City's biggest home victories have been 6-0 in 1929-30 and 6-1 in 1933-3 4.

<bullet/> Players to have appeared for both sides include Graeme Crawford, Gordon Morritt, Jimmy Seal, Chris Jones, Billy Rudd and Shaun Reid.

Updated: 11:34 Friday, September 05, 2003