ALL you need to know ahead of Bradford (Park Avenue)'s Vanarama National League North match with York City.

Kick-off: Saturday, December 26 (3pm)

Venue: Horsfall Stadium

Odds: Bradford 5/2, York 20/21, Draw 12/5

Current positions: 15th v 4th

Form guide

Another 10-day break followed Avenue's 3-1 defeat to Chester in the Buildbase FA Trophy. Previous to the cup game was a disappointing home loss by the same scoreline against Leamington.

So, with Curzon Ashton sandwiched between both York clashes, I'm sure Mark Bower would love to get back to winning ways sooner rather than later.

City fell victim to a shock result themselves in the trophy, going out on penalties to Step 3 side Ashton United.

Although in the league they have been ruthless so far albeit after only playing nine games. Aside from slipping up at Leamington last month, Steve Watson's men are unbeaten.

Team news

Four players join the long-term injured Mitch Lund and Oli Johnson on the sidelines. Skipper Luca Havern and Jordan Windass will definitely be out, while Adam Nowakowski and Isaac Marriott are 50-50.

Ryan Toulson and Jake Hibbs are also currently serving bans for sending offs, meaning Bradford just about have 11 first teamers available.

Omar Sanyang was cup-tied in the trophy so should return. Will Longbottom signed earlier in the week and is likely to start on the bench.

Possible line-ups

Avenue

GK Dan Atkinson, RB Matty Downing, CB Mark Ross, CB Luke Lyons, LB Harry Boyes, CM Adam Nowakowski, CM Regan Booty, CM Nicky Clee (C), RW Omar Sanyang, ST Lewis Knight, LW Brad Dockerty.

Subs: Will Huffer, Jacob Fawcett, Tabish Hussain, Jamie Lyons, Will Longbottom.

York

GK Peter Jameson, RB Robbie Tinkler, CB Kieran Kennedy, CB Matthew Brown, LB Sean Newton, RM Paddy McLaughlin, CM Akil Wright, CM Michael Woods, LM Oliver Dyson, ST Jack Redshaw, ST Jake Cassidy.

Subs: Harry Flatters, Owen Gamble, Harry Spratt, Reon Potts, Rob Guilfoyle.

Battle to watch: Knight v Newton

Knight's last-minute consolation was the only real positive to be taken from that miserable showing at the Deva. It boasts the striker's tally up to eight for the season, already three more than last term.

If his team are going to have any chance of shocking the odds they need their main man to stay in red hot form.

A large proportion of the Minstermen's goals in 2020-21 have come from a surprise candidate. Left back Newton is their top scorer with five to his name.

Defensively the captain has also been solid, featuring in a back four who has conceded the joint-second least amount of goals (eight).

Head to head

The pair have been playing each over for 70 years now and it's York who hold the better record (22-14). In more recent times, Park Avenue have struggled too, taking the three points once in six meetings.

In the matches at the same time last year, the former Football League giants grabbed two wins.

Kieran Green and Jordan Burrow each scored at Horsfall, and Liam Hughes' stoppage time goal didn't matter in the reverse fixture as Burrow and ex-Avenue man Macaulay Langstaff had already netted earlier.