PERFECTIONIST Billy McEwan will still be looking for improvement as his York City team bid to extend their unbeaten run to five games at Halifax Town tonight.

City currently lie high among the early Conference front-runners, but McEwan is still concerned by the number of needless free-kicks his side is conceding.

He identified the problem in each of the Minstermen's last two games and will not abide a repeat display in front of the Sky television cameras at The Shay.

Half-joking, McEwan said: "They drive me crackers sometimes this lot and are sure to give me a heart attack before the end of the season. We keep giving away too many free-kicks and the players have got to learn to have more patience and composure.

"Against Woking, we had 93 minutes on the clock and almost let them score and one thing that is for sure if you are following York City this season is that your nerves will be frayed."

Halifax boss Chris Wilder was at Friday night's 2-1 KitKat Crescent win against Woking while McEwan saw the Shaymen's 2-2 draw at Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.

McEwan is hoping for a spot of revenge after Halifax beat City in the corresponding televised fixture last season.

He said: "I thought we were a bit unlucky in that match with Paul Groves' own goal and Ben Jackson's shot that got stuck in the mud."

On-loan striker Darren Mansaram has been refused permission to play for City against his parent club and last season's 12-goal leading scorer Andy Bishop could be handed his first start of the current campaign after netting in his last two outings as a substitute.

Bishop has been nursed back into action after a summer operation on his knee.

McEwan is also expected to recall captain Mark Hotte to the centre of defence despite James Dudgeon's match-winning performance against Woking.

City (probable): Porter, Price, McGurk, Hotte, Peat, Convery, Panther, Dunning, Bishop, O'Neill, Donaldson. Subs: Afandiyev, Merris, Yalcin, Stewart, Dudgeon. Kick-off: 5.15 pm.

Updated: 10:26 Monday, August 29, 2005