August 25, 2023...Preview: 'Seven Cup Finals Lift For Us' Says Nash as Playoff Push Intensifies (from York United FC website)

PREVIEW: 'SEVEN CUP FINALS LEFT FOR US', SAYS NASH AS PLAYOFF PUSH INTENSIFIES

The Nine Stripes are back at home tonight and welcome Vancouver FC to York Lions Stadium.

Tonight, at York Lions Stadium, Martin Nash and his charges must exorcise their poor home form and lay Vancouver FC to rest.

The Nine Stripes are at the edge of a cliff after going four matches without a win and dropping out of the playoff places.

On home turf, York United have already tasted five defeats in nine matches and a paltry two wins and two draws is a major reason why their rivals have been able to catch them and topple them over.

Their last outing in front of the home fans was on 30 July 2023 ended in a shock 2-0 defeat to Halifax Wanderers. To reverse this trend, Nash has told his players to take a firm grip of proceedings, press VFC into errors and attack with pace and precision.

"We’ve got to come out on fire. We started slow in our last game. Even at Forge, to some extent, we didn’t start great. We finished better in both games but we’ve got to bring it from minute one," he said in his pre-match chat.

"We can't sit back and let the game come to us. We’ve got to find a way to play with the passion at home like when we're on the road. We're going to push the guys to come out on fire."

York United are in sixth position on the league table and so they need the points to close in Halifax who occupy the fifth position with a three-point advantage.

"I think the next seven games are like cup finals. But I think next week [in Halifax] is probably the biggest one," Nash added.

"Anyways this one is still a massive match and we've prepared in that way. We keep an eye on every opponent as the season goes. I think we watch every match unless we're traveling, so we know what every team is about. There's no secret at this stage of the season even though they've added players that we haven't seen before.

"A lot of their structure hasn't changed - just the personnel. We know what they're going to bring tomorrow. They bring energy, they fight, they work hard, they give everything they've got, they battle to the death. It's gonna be a tough test but if we bring our energy and we play the way we can then the three points are there for us."

Carson Buschman-Dormond is available for selection after his red card from last week was overturned.

Versatile Paris Gee, who sat out last week's defeat at Spruce Meadows with a minor knock, should return to the side.

Ridwan Ibrahim Asante

OPPONENT WATCH:

Vancouver FC are poor travellers with one win, two draws and seven defeats and they have lost their last six matches in a row.

Afshin Ghotbi’s side have earned a win on the road since April 22: against York United.

Vancouver FC's top scorer is Shaan Hundal with six goals.

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