York City have incredibly revived their season in recent weeks, extending their unbeaten run to 7 games following a 1-1 draw at Hereford on Saturday.

The Minstermen have won 5 of their last 7 in the league, and have upgraded a mid-table ranking for a 7th place playoff spot, with 4th place still a possibility.

Darlington have similarly turned their form around too. After 4 straight losses, The Quakers responded with three wins and a draw, two of those coming against sides in the playoffs.

Most recently, Darlington overcame Blyth with a dramatic 102nd minute winner to steal all three points.

Alun Armstrong's side currently sit in 11th, just 3 points off the playoffs and a win could take them even closer to that target.

  • Team news

In-form York midfielder Mitch Hancox was ruled out of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Hereford, with The Bulls being his parent club.

However, he is set to return to the starting lineup against Darlington on Tuesday and Hancox looks to add to his 7 goals in 5 games.

Captain Matty Brown is also in contention after returning from an Achilles injury and only making the bench at weekend.

City loanee Sam Sanders is currently out with a broken hand.

On the Darlington side of things, Danny Ellis had a fitness test but wasn't included in the squad for the 1-0 victory over Blyth on Saturday so is presumably still not ready. 

Striker Junior Mondal is out for a month with a hamstring injury and will not appear on Tuesday night.

  • Predicted lineups

York City: Jameson, Duckworth, Brown, Kouogun, Barrow, Wright, Hancox, McLaughlin, Dyson, John-Lewis, McKay

Darlington: Taylor, Hedley, Griffiths, Lawlor, Storey, Hatfield, Purver, Dos Santos, Lambert, Thompson, Cassidy

  • Ones to watch

On loan from Hereford, Mitch Hancox has converted into a goal machine ever since he switched from left back to midfield.

One of the key players in York City's playoff charge, Hancox has scored 7 goals, including three braces! 

Creative midfielder Jack Lambert has been a standout player for Darlington this season. The skillful playmaker has already netted a hat-trick against Farsley Celtic and likes to chip in with a few assists.

Two of the best goalkeepers in the league will go head to head in this tasty fixture with York's Pete Jameson accumulating 8 clean sheets in the league this season whilst Quakers 'keeper Tommy Taylor has claimed 2 less but has made some very big saves to accompany them.

  • Previous meeting

The reverse fixture between these two sides ended in a Clayton Donaldson brace helping York to a 2-1 victory at Blackwell Meadows.

Donaldson's goals in the 23rd and 35th minute, either side of Jake Cooper's red card, looked to have sealed the game for The Minstermen.

Darlington did however, manage to pull a goal back through Luke Charman with 29 minutes left to play, but it wasn't enough to get a result.

  • What the managers have said

City manager John Askey gave his views on Tuesday night's fixture with a bold mentality. He mentioned, "We know whoever we play, it's about us. We play well, we're capable of matching anyone in the league."

Quakers boss Alun Armstrong spoke along similar lines. "I'm not scared of anyone in this league", he claimed. "We've got to believe in ourselves."

  • How to watch

Tickets and admission are available on the day for the following prices:

Adults: £20

Infants (6-11): £6

U19/Student: £8

Concession/65+: £15

Other than watching the game live at the LNER Community Stadium, there will be no livestream, but commentary is available from BBC Radio York and Darlo Fans Radio.

Kickoff is at 19:45 GMT.

A live matchday feed will also be available on VAVEL.com from myself and you can also keep updated with my Twitter @RyanBrookes23. 

 

VAVEL Logo
About the author