YORK City boss Billy McEwan is not expecting a repeat performance of his side's 5-0 thrashing of part-timers Altrincham at Moss Lane tonight.

The Minstermen enjoyed their biggest victory of the season back in September when the part-time Cheshire club visited KitKat Crescent.

Andy Bishop, Clayton Donaldson, James Dudgeon, Joe O'Neill and Bryan Stewart all found the net in that match but McEwan feels that last season's Conference North play-off winners are a different proposition now.

He said: "They have won seven matches at home this season so we know it will be a harder game. They are still fighting to stay up and Exeter, even though they won 3-1, did not have it easy against them on Saturday.

"They have come on since we played them earlier in the season when I think promotion was a whole new ball game for them but Graham Heathcote has done a great job this season and they have adapted quite well in the circumstances."

But, while McEwan admits a high-scoring away victory is unlikely, he has stressed the need for a return to winning ways tonight.

The Minstermen have dropped out of the play-off positions after taking two points from a possible nine but will climb back into the top five with a victory at Moss Lane tonight unless Morecambe enjoy an unlikely heavy win against second-placed Hereford United.

McEwan was upset with his team's display during Saturday's 0-0 draw at Burton Albion although, with reflection, added that the final result was not too disappointing.

He said: "We have only lost one game in nine but we also need to get back to winning ways because we haven't won for three matches and we need to pick up points from every fixture now. It has been tough because tonight's game will mean we have played three of our last four matches away from home but we have got to approach the game in a positive manner.

"We did not play as well as we can on Saturday but we still got a point away from home against a team in form. People say it's results that matter at this stage of the season and they are right."

McEwan will give right-back Jamie Price a late fitness test on the knee injury that caused him to be substituted during the second half at Burton before settling on his starting line-up.

The City boss said: "He took a bit of a knock on his knee but we are hoping he will be all right and we will have to wait and see."

Teenagers Nathan Kamara and Alex Rhodes, yet to make first-team appearances, have also been drafted into the squad with McEwan adding: "I want to give them a taste of what it's all about and they will both be travelling with us."

Updated: 09:45 Tuesday, April 04, 2006