DOVER assistant boss Jake Leberl stressed that there will be no room for complacency when Whites take on rock bottom York City at Crabble on Saturday.
The Minstermen, relegated from League Two last season, have won only four League games all season and arrive in Kent one point adrift at the foot of the table.
Whites are fifth and 27 points better off, but Leberl said nothing would be taken for granted.
He said: “It is unbelievable a club such as York is struggling at the bottom of this league.
“Saying that, we cannot worry about them and their current situation.
“This is an extremely tough league – there are no easy games in it. This game will be no different.
“We have got to ensure that we go out there and put on a professional performance and hopefully get some more points.
“We are in the play-off positions now and we’ve got to show grit, desire and determination to stay in there.”
Three points on Saturday would also secure a first win at home for boss Chris Kinnear’s side since the 3-1 win against Woking on November 22
WHAT YORK BOSS GARY MILLS IS SAYING ABOUT DOVER
“They are doing well and have got themselves back in the play-offs, so we’ve got to work hard and fight for everything,” he told Minstermen PlayerHD.
“Not many people think we can beat anybody at the moment, so let them think that.
“We know what we are capable of and we’ll be going there not to get a draw, but a win. They play a man-marking game that I’ve never seen anybody else play, but it works for them home and away.
“They’ve also got a striker who’s the hottest property in the league and all their forwards are on fire at the moment, but it’s a challenge we’ve got to overcome and we’ve got to make sure we have more of the ball than we did against North Ferriby on Sunday.”
YORK CITY’S RECENT FORM
York lost 1-0 at home against fellow strugglers North Ferriby United on New Year’s Day.
Prior to that, they won the reverse clash by the same scoreline on Boxing Day with Forest Green Rovers loanee Aarran Racine getting the goal.
RECENT MEETINGS
Dover won the only previous meeting between the two clubs, 1-0 at Bootham Crescent in September.
Ricky Miller scored the all-important goal in the first half.
HITMEN
Whites’ top scorer in the National League this season is Miller with 24.
Miller’s strike partners Ross Lafayette and Moses Emmanuel are also both in double figures after both scored in the 4-1 win at Maidstone on New Year’s Day.
Emmanuel’s double sees him on 11 goals while Lafayette has 10 to his name.
The trio’s form in front of goal mean Whites are the equal joint leading scorers in the league alongside table-topping Lincoln City with 55.
Midfielder Aidan Connolly is York’s leading man with three goals, but he will miss the clash at Crabble with a thigh injury.
TEAM NEWS
Leberl says there are no injury concerns while new signing James Hurst is in contention to make the matchday squad.
Midfielder Joe Healy is also available.
TICKET NEWS
Tickets can still be purchased on the day and this match is SEGREGATED.
COVERAGE
The game starts at 3pm but if you are unable to make the trip up the hill to Crabble, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens!
SATURDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES
ALDERSHOT TOWN v SOUTHPORT
BRAINTREE TOWN V CHESTER FC
BROMLEY V FOREST GREEN ROVERS
GUISELEY AFC V MAIDSTONE UNITED
NORTH FERRIBY UNITED V DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE
SOLIHULL MOORS V GATESHEAD
TORQUAY UNITED V BOREHAM WOOD
WREXHAM v WOKING
LOOKING AHEAD
The Supporters Club are running a coach to the National League games at Macclesfield Town and Lincoln City.
Details for both are as follows:
Macclesfield Town (Tuesday, January 10)
Coach leaves Crabble at 12.45pm and the cost is
Adults Members £30, Adult Non Members £35 and accompanied child (under 16) £10.
Lincoln City (Friday, January 20)
Thanks to a generous donation by local businessman and huge Dover Athletic fan Nick Cunningham– who owns Nick Cunningham Plumbing and Heating Engineers, based in Sandwich –seats on the coach are being sold at a reduced price.
We thank Nick for his kind gesture and hope that fans take advantage of his generosity.
Coach leaves Crabble at 1pm and the cost is:
Adults Members £10, Adult Non Members £20 and accompanied child (under 16) £5.
Please call or text Andy on 0793 4300335 to book your seat or see him in the Centre Spot on Saturday