York City v Luton Town

29 April 2010 15:32
Prolific striker Richard Brodie and skipper Michael Ingham will both be recalled to the York City side as they face Luton Town in their play-off semi-final first-leg at Bootham Crescent tonight (kick-off 7.45pm). Right-back Ben Purkiss is also expected to return after all three were left out of the starting eleven for the recent narrow defeat at champions Stevenage Borough. With a full squad at his disposal, manager Martin Foyle is set to rely on his trusted formation of Alex Lawless and Chris Carruthers flanking Levi Mackin and Neil Barrett in midfield, with Michael Rankine partnering Brodie in attack.But he also believes that the home fans can have a major influence on the eventual outcome. “We are all in this together. We are a team and that includes the fans," Foyle told The Press. "We are all looking to forward to it.“The attitude of the players has been spot-on all season and they are champing at the bit. There have been a lot of positives this year, with the FA Cup run and results in the league, and the fans’ support is great – it is much needed."The Minstermen will be keen to take a lead to Kenilworth Road on Bank Holiday Monday. But Foyle was still stressing the need for patience from all parties involved.“You want to go to Luton not losing,” he continued. “That’s not being negative. We will be playing the right side to unlock Luton Town but if it is 0-0 they will be under massive pressure.“We are trying to win a game (tonight). I would like to win 4-0, but are we going to? It is going to be tight and the second leg is going to be very, very interesting.” The Hatters welcome back key midfield pair Keith Keane (knee) and Claude Gnakpa (hamstring) from injury. George Pilkington and Ed Asafu-Adjaye have also shaken-off minor knocks, but on loan York winger Craig Nelthorpe is ineligible. A bumper seven thousand-plus attendance is expected at Bootham Crescent tonight, although Foyle was remaining typically calm and measured as he added: “We need to make sure we are spot on. “There has been a good tempo in training and we have worked hard. We have certainly stepped up a level. We are looking forward to tonight.”

Source: FOOTYMAD