YORK City have eight games to approach like cup finals, assistant manager Micky Cummins has said ahead of tomorrow's home game against Altrincham.

The Minstermen lead the way in the National League North title race but have King's Lynn Town breathing down their neck, sitting just two points behind with three games in hand.

But the Linnets missed what seemed, on paper, a massive opportunity to return to the top of the table on Tuesday, going down 1-0 at home to basement side Bradford Park Avenue.

Cummins admitted this result has given York "a bit of a lift" - but maintains that his side must continue to focus on themselves.

"I've mentioned and the gaffer's mentioned that there's no definite results," he said.

"You can't go into a game thinking you're going to win it, that you've got a God-given right to get the three points, regardless of the opposition and the position they are in the league.

"We've got to approach it, like every other team, like it's a cup final, particularly our last eight games now.

"We've got to go out there and be better than our opponents, win your battles all over the pitch. Hopefully, nine times out of 10, you come out on top in them games.

"It was a bit of a lift.

"We've got a tough run coming up. They've got quite a few games themselves but we can only concentrate on ourselves, keep our squad ticking over and relish in the opportunities.

"We need to perform to make sure we get the right results."

York head into the Altrincham game off the back of a 3-1 win at Alfreton Town, where City blew away their hosts with two goals inside a barnstorming opening 15 minutes in an explosive reaction to the home defeat to Hereford four days previously.

It took York to a total of 66 points from 34 games, meaning they are averaging 1.94 points per game. Cummins is targeting two points per game or better as the season heads towards its denouement.

Asked if York have a points tally in mind, Cummins said: "Pre-season, I remember saying you're looking at two points per game.

"That's still the target. If we can do a little bit better than that, we'll be there or thereabouts.

"We've got a tough run-in. I mentioned after the Hereford game we can go the next nine unbeaten.

"We've got one down. We need to go again and approach it the same as Alfreton."

Of the training ground atmosphere this last week, Cummins said: "It was quite buoyant.

"We were looking for the response from the previous game at home and we certainly got it. We were out of the blocks really fast, had numerous opportunities, looked solid throughout.

"Maybe the only blemish was the goal we conceded but, overall, we were pleased with the performance and how they reacted."

With captain Steve McNulty returning to the squad, York were able to play a more familiar central back three.

"Macca was a miss," Cummins added. "We looked rigid, solid out of possession and in possession.

"We had threats all across the pitch.

"In particular, I've got to mention Fergy. He's found a bit of form again, which has coincided with Kempy coming back into the team.

"The link-up and cohesion they've got down the left side has been in evidence in the last week."

Sean Newton opened the scoring with a free kick from the edge of the area and Alex Kempster added a second minutes after. Newton got the third with another free kick which deflected off the wall and looped in.

Dan Maguire went down in discomfort in the second half and was replaced by Adriano Moke, while Joe Tait suffered a cut above his eye but played on. Both are available for the weekend, said Cummins.

And Steve Watson's right-hand man laid down the gauntlet to his players to keep their places as York currently have a fully fit squad to choose from.

"It's down to them to stay in the team because now we've got options off the bench in an attacking sense," Cummins said.

"We went down there without a defender on the bench because we've got Buxton, the anchor in midfield, as it were."