RUSHDEN and Diamonds striker Craig Farrell is likely to be dropped to the bench for tonight’s home match against his former York City team-mates.

Farrell played the full 90 minutes of Saturday’s 3-2 FA Cup second round defeat at Brighton – Diamonds’ first loss in eight games – but is expected to make way for Jefferson Louis.

Journeyman forward Louis was cup-tied for the Withdean Stadium clash having played for Crawley Town earlier in the competition but is due to face the Minstermen alongside Aaron O’Connor in attack.

Farrell, who moved to Rushden as part of the £10,000 deal that brought Michael Rankine to Bootham Crescent, has failed to score in his last ten matches since netting his fifth of the season – a consolation in September’s 2-1 defeat at Crawley.

Midfielder Paul Terry, the brother of England captain John, will also be recalled having served a one-match suspension, replacing Neil Cousins in the starting line-up after he suffered knee ligament damage at Brighton.

Matt Pattison, who came on for Cousins, had to be substituted too after suffering a broken nose that will sideline him against City, along with Rob Woolleaston who has a calf injury.

Left-winger Lee Tomlin is Rushden’s nine-goal top scorer and he is in a rich vein of form having hit the target eight times in the last ten fixtures.

Tomlin’s efforts have helped the Northamptonshire club embark on an unbeaten six-game run in the Blue Square Premier that has lifted them to within one place and one point of a play-off spot.

Former Tottenham defender Justin Edinburgh’s side have taken 16 points from a possible 18 with a 2-2 draw against Cambridge a week ago stalling their 100 per cent sequence of five straight league victories.

Rushden have, however, failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five matches at Nene Park and only Tamworth have conceded more home goals outside the division’s bottom eight.

Probable Rushden team: Abbey, Downer, Osano, Stuart, Robinson; Byrne, Porter, Terry, Tomlin; Louis, O’Connor.

Match facts

YORK City made two Football League visits to Nene Park losing on both occasions, while in the Conference they have won one and drawn one of their three trips.

In 2006/7, Clayton Donaldson netted the only goal of the game and the following season Richard Brodie scored in a 1-1 draw.

Last term City went down 2-0 and the line-up on February 24, 2009, was: Ingham, Critchell, Pejic, Parslow, McWilliams, C Smith, Mackin, Rusk (A Smith), Brown, Brodie (Boyes), McBreen (Sodje).

It happened on December 1

1937: Reg Baines scored the winner in a 1-0 first round FA Cup replay at Halifax as City embarked on a run which saw them reach the quarter-final.

1956: A 1-0 home win over Darlington with Arthur Bottom on target in front of 8,153. City were in the top half of Division Three North.

1962: City went down 3-2 at Oldham Athletic after leading 2-0 and were in the bottom four of the Fourth Division. The marksmen were Walter Bingley (pen) and Roy Ambler.

1980: Port Vale were beaten 5-1 at Bootham Crescent with Peter Lorimer (2), Andy Clements, Kevin Randall and Ian McDonald on the scoresheet. The attendance was 2,402 and City were below mid-table in Division Four.

1984: Division Four leaders City were held to a 2-2 draw at Bootham Crescent by Reading in front of 4,015. Keith Houchen and Derek Hood were the scorers.

1990: A 2-2 home draw against Scunthorpe United with Tony Canham and Glenn Naylor the marksmen. City were in the lower reaches of the Fourth Division and the attendance was 2,495.

2007: Onome Sodje scored in a 1-1 home draw with Crawley Town and City were in the bottom half of the Conference. The crowd was 2,212.

Compiled by David Batters