Brabin not fazed about Walker threat

Leading the line for the Minstermen is Jason Walker, who was at Luton last season, before making the switch in the summer.

He is famously remembered by Town fans for chipping a penalty shoot-out effort in the Conference play-off final at Eastlands, that was saved by AFC Wimbledon keeper Seb Brown, before Danny Kedwell won the game for the Dons.

Brabin said: “Players always perform better against their former clubs and managers. It is something that happens.

“It happened on Tuesday. Lee Phillips I signed at Cambridge and he’s scored (for Bath City), so you always have that in the back of your minds.

“But we can’t live in fear of that. We’ve got former players like Alex Lawless playing against York for the first time since he signed for the club.

“I don’t think you can worry too much about it, we’re aware of their good players.”

Walker opted to switch to York during the close season and Brabin felt that his penalty miss at Manchester City that cost Hatters a place in the Football League, may have made his mind up over the move.

He said: “Whether he felt he couldn’t come back after the disappointment of the final I don’t know.

“I’ve not spoken to Jason since he went. It was his decision, he’s gone there and helping them do well. We’re just fully focused on ourselves and want to go there with the same attitude we’ve shown for the last three and half games before the second half at Bath.”

Speaking ahead of the match, Walker said: “It’s always been a big game and it’s two teams that are fighting for the title and for promotion.

“It’s what you play football for. You like to play the big games and you like to play against your friends.

“My target is to win the league. The main thing is the team win and we get promoted at the end of the year really.”

Walker’s new boss Gary Mills expects his summer signing to be able to handle the flak that might come his way from the travelling fans.

He said: “Jason Walker has got his personal feelings and reasons for wanting to do well tomorrow and he’s got to handle that right because these things are never easy.

“I expect their fans were not pleased with him coming here and leaving Luton but he’s just got to carry on doing what he has been doing. His movement and link-up play have been outstanding and he’s scored seven goals in ten matches, which, if he carries on at that rate, will get him 30 goals this season.

“I’m sure he will handle the occasion correctly because he’s a good professional who takes a lot of stick from defenders but never retaliates.”

While York will be able to call upon the services of their leading scorer, Hatters won’t have that luxury as Amari Morgan-Smith is suspended for picking up his fifth booking of the season against Bath in midweek.

Brabin said: “I thought it was a silly booking from Amari, again it doesn’t help when you going into big games.”

Doubts still remain over Keith Keane and Curtis Osano, while Ed Asafu-Adjaye, who was dropped from the squad completely on Tuesday night, could come into contention.

The Town boss said: “We’re very hopeful of at least one, possibly two, we’d love all three to be fit.

“We assess everything on a Friday, with some of the situations we have to wait until then and give ourselves a cut off point, that’s going to be the case again.”

York and Hatters have enjoyed a chequered past recently, especially last season with their match at Kenilworth Road abandoned due to snow, leading to York demanding compensation over their travel costs, while Brabin himself saw red at Bootham Crescent and was manhandled down the tunnel by home stewards, with police later launching an investigation.

The boss added: “I expect it to be a tough game. They’re one of the favourites this year. It’s a difficult place to go we have tough games there.

“It’s always been a bit of an atmosphere between both sets of supporters and its been well documented. So we’re expecting a tough game but we’re fully focused and professional enough to go there and concentrate on the football.”