Southport "the kind of game you've got to come away with something from" - York City assistant manager Micky Cummins

Though Port have suffered a dip in form the last three games, they are still looking upwards in National League North, and Cummins insists they will be a challenge.

The Minstermen head to Merseyside off the back of a 2-1 home win over Bradford Park Avenue - a performance which Cummins described as "hit and miss". It took York until the 80th minute for top scorer Jordan Burrow to net the second and settle home fans' nerves.

Macaulay Langstaff had fired in the opener inside the opening quarter of an hour, which meant that every starting outfield player on the pitch on Wednesday had scored for York this term - though Burrow and strike partner Alex Kempster are far and away York's most potent attackers, netting 18 goals between them. Burrow has 10 of those.

And as well as calling for York to press home their advantage when they are on top, Cummins also said City need to share out the goalscoring responsibility.

Southport sit seventh after losing their last three games by a combined scoreline of 10-1, but remain just three points off fourth spot.

"They're having a bit of a lull but they are traditionally a good team at this level," Cummins said.

"It will be a tough game at their place.

"They have been playing five at the back, but they've made some changes last few games and have played with a four.

"We know a lot about their squad, we've had them watched, but they may do some business in the transfer window.

"It will be a big test. You've got to come away with something from games like these with teams that are threatening in and around you, particularly when there are other big games going on.

"We can only have control over what we do, how we prepare and what we do in the game, so we've got to be at it for 90 minutes and be positive, get in the final third as much as possible.

“We need to start scoring, getting on the end of crosses and getting goals from midfield.

“We can’t be reliant on two or three individuals all the time.”

On the Bradford game, Cummins concluded: “It was a bit bitty and hit and miss in some areas. In our dominant stage of the game, we should have put the game to bed.

“They came out and changed the shape, gave us an issue for a 15, 20-minute spell.

“Some decision-making on and off the ball put us on the back foot a bit and gave them a little sniff.

“We need to maintain the positivity and the forward-thinking for the 90 minutes, regardless of the opponents and where they are in the league.

“Each team carries a different type of threat so we need to manage the game better.”

Steve McNulty and striker Dan Maguire were two notable absences from the teamsheet on Wednesday. McNulty was recovering from illness while Maguire continues to be troubled by a back injury, but both were reported to be in contention on Friday. Kieran Green - who, Watson revealed, was ill the night before the Bradford game - was in training on Friday and Cummins says York have “more or less a full squad”.

Club captain McNulty was in the stands at Bootham Crescent on New Year’s Day, and exhibited his leadership qualities during and after the match with team talks in the dressing room.

Cummins explained: “He was at the game the other evening.

“He came in at half-time and after the game and he had his bit to say afterwards.

“Sometimes you let the players sort things out for themselves and he said what he needed and probably what the lads needed to hear.

“He’ll be in the squad.

“He’s a serial winner,” Cummins added. “He’s been successful wherever he’s been.

“He’s had experience and obviously he wasn’t happy with something, he’s said what he needed to say, and I think it was a positive response.

“With him being the leader of the group along with others who are vocal, we need them on the same page moving forward.”