THE top of the table clash between York City and King's Lynn on Saturday is quite arguably York's biggest game of the season so far.

York trail Vanarama National League North leaders King's Lynn but just a point ahead of the game - though the Norfolk club do have two games in hand on the Minstermen.

For the players, or at least midfielder Paddy McLaughlin, the mentality remains that it is just another game in the season, despite the extra attention attached to the fixture.

Taking emotion out of the occasion is the mindset required, McLaughlin explained.

"Naturally there is a bit more excitement and there's a bit more too it," said the former Newcastle midfielder.

"People in the street stop you and say, 'it's a big game this weekend at King's Lynn, first against second'.

"But you do have to be cold about these sorts of things and play it as a game of football which goes on for 90 minutes.

"Then we'll see where we're at come Saturday evening.

"They're all big games.

"But, of course, there's an added bit on this one because it's first versus second and now we're getting to that stage of the season where things are beginning to take shape.

"Of course it is a big game, but last Saturday was a big game because if we didn't win that then we wouldn't have set up our position for this game to mean as much as it probably does.

"Yes, it is a big game. but at that same time we've got to see it as just another game."

From 24 league matches this season, impressively, King's Lynn have lost just twice.

The first of those defeats came on the opening day of the season against Guiseley.

The most recent was a 3-0 win for York at Bootham Crescent in September.

In a rather odd game, King's Lynn dominated the majority of the ball but didn't seem to ever trouble York's defence.

"They did have a lot of possession of the ball that day," reflected McLaughlin on the game, in which he started.

"I couldn't tell you what the specific stats where but I don't remember them having too many clear cut chances and too many shots on target.

"And we obviously scored three good goals and it was a very professional performance from ourselves that day.

"It's something that we'll be looking to try and repeat come Saturday.

"There's probably not as many sides that pass it around like they do.

"And you do have to maybe be that wee bit more disciplined and not get pulled out of your shape."

Since that game, King's Lynn only loss has come at National League side Ebbsfleet United in the FA Trophy last weekend. Their last league defeat at home came in October 2018.

"They've done unbelievably well and you've got to give them credit for that," McLaughlin added.

"To have the points return that they have at this stage of the season is admirable.

"But, that doesn't stop us wanting to beat them.

"And, we'll be trying our upmost to do that on Saturday.

"Again, their home form is admirable and impressive.

"Fair play to them for that, but that has to end some time.

"All records are there to be ended and broken and hopefully it will be us that can do that."