DARREN Dunning is hoping that himself and fellow 'dog' Emmanuel Panther can once more supply the bite in York City's midfield at Gravesend and Northfleet on Saturday.

The 24-year-old midfielder is one of just three Minstermen players who started last season's 4-0 mauling at Gravesend expecting to be selected this weekend and, along with Andy Bishop and Bryan Stewart, is plotting personal revenge for that embarrassing result.

Dunning also believes that the current City side, lying second in the Conference table, have all the attributes needed in a winning team, including the doggedness he and former Partick Thistle midfielder Panther provide.

He said: "We can all get the ball down and pass it but I think we have a lot of different strengths in the team now.

"Andy Bishop is a handful and I don't think anybody in the Conference is quicker than Clayton Donaldson, while Mark Convery can split a defence with one pass and Bryan Stewart can go at people and take them on.

"Then there's me and Manny as the dogs, if you like, who try and cancel out the opposition's midfield, win the ball for the team and give it to people who can do the damage.

"We've also got a great team spirit. There's no 'I' in team and that's what we believe in. Everybody on the bench and on the field is in it together."

Last season's visit to Stonebridge Road led to calls for then manager Chris Brass' head after an error-strewn performance and arguments raged during the game between goalkeeper Paul Crichton and Minstermen supporters.

Dunning still has painful memories of the match that he is keen to exorcise, saying: "It always hurts when you lose any game but especially by a big margin and we will be out to put that right. I'm certain it won't be the same on Saturday."

The former Blackburn Rovers midfielder has begun to recapture the form this season that made him the Evening Press Player of the Year during his first campaign with the Minstermen but plays down his personal achievements so far.

He said: "I'm not going overboard on my performances. I'm doing all right, I'm doing average, but we are only 12 games in and I can talk about how well I've done at the end of the season.

"I feel I'm playing better than last season, though, which wasn't a good one for me. I don't know why because it wasn't for the want of trying hard."

Dunning, who has netted seven times during two seasons at KitKat Crescent, is also hoping to get off the mark soon in Billy McEwan's free-scoring side but added: "I've been a bit unlucky with some of my shots just going wide or the 'keeper making good saves but I don't mind as long as I can help the team keep winning."

Updated: 10:22 Thursday, October 06, 2005