York City manager Billy McEwan is looking to his players to show they can bounce back after their first taste of defeat when they play Cambridge United.

The new-look Minstermen started the season on a high after opening their account with four games unbeaten before a 1-0 defeat at Halifax Town on Monday.

And McEwan is now looking for his young side to shake off the disappointment of The Shay with a win at KitKat Crescent tonight (Friday).

He said: "It's a tough game and I am sure the lads will be looking to bounce back from Monday.

"We had the elation at Woking of coming back from being a goal down but then this week we were in the dressing-room and I told them you've got to experience the feeling of not winning. It'll happen again this season but you need to know what it feels like so you know what you're avoiding.

"We have just got to bounce back and show the character as we did last Friday, show the same commitment and keep working hard.

"We will make mistakes but so long as we don't make as many as the opposition we will be okay."

York are facing a newly-relegated team not so different to themselves a year ago.

But despite their relative youth - most of the Cambridge team are under 24 - they are renowned for their strength and McEwan is hoping to see his boys counter that.

He said: "We know they are an experienced side. They are looking to go back into the League so it's got the makings of a good match.

"They will be a more physical team. They've got a lot of height and a lot of strength but we've got to be able to keep up with that at this level."

McEwan's three-pronged attack has proved a potent combination in terms of setting up chances and goals.

A total of seven have been fired past opposition 'keepers so far compared to just two at the same stage of last season.

Clayton Donaldson is the only member of the front line not to have found the net yet but McEwan said it was far from a matter of concern for him.

"He's made a few," he said. "He can't make them and score them - he can't be in two places at once. We don't care who scores the goals as long as someone does although their prime thing is to score goals - that's why they're called forwards.

"He's only a young player but he's been a threat in most of the games. He's taken a lot of knocks because he gets into positions and he scares them and he's had no protection from referees whatsoever.

"He's got other attributes to his game other than scoring - he's a good creative player."

Striker Darren Mansaram is also expected to return to contention for squad selection. Mansaram, on loan from Halifax, was not allowed by his parent club to play against them on Monday. An upset stomach stopped him from training on Tuesday and Wednesday but he is back in action now.

City's juniors entertain Chesterfield at Wigginton Road (11am) in the Youth Alliance League.

Tonight's squads:

Nationwide Conference

City v Cambridge United

(at KitKat Crescent)

York City from: Porter, Price, McGurk, Hotte, Peat, Panther, Convery, Dunning, Bishop, O'Neill, Donaldson, Mansaram, Merris, Dugeon, Stewart, Yalcin, Afandiyev.

Cambridge United (probable): Behcet, Gleeson, Peters, Duncan, Harkness, Quinton, Hanlon, Smith, Angel, Onibuje, Turner. Subs: Bridges, Duffy, Okai, Nolan, Daniels.

Referee: D Richardson (Halifax).

Kick-off: 7.45pm.

Updated: 10:11 Friday, September 02, 2005