YORK City boss Russ Wilcox believes his team have conquered the fear of playing at Bootham Crescent.

The Minstermen set a club record last season when they did not win a single home fixture prior to the 1-0 home triumph over Boxing Day.

But, since a Good Friday triumph over Cheltenham, Wilcox's men have triumphed in five of the last seven fixtures on their home soil, including a thrilling penalty shoot-out victory over Sky Bet League One outfit Bradford City this term.

Pre-season also included an impressive victory over a visiting Newcastle team, while Championship pair Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday were held to draws in North Yorkshire.

City were beaten in front of their own fans earlier this month by Hartlepool but dominated the first hour of that game and, ahead of entertaining Mansfield this afternoon, Wilcox added: "We're back on our own patch after beating Yeovil in our last game here and back-to-back home wins at this stage of the season would be great.

"The club didn't get a home win until Boxing Day last season, which is incredible really, but the form at Bootham Crescent right through pre-season was good. The players are enjoying playing here this season.

"Last season was difficult but now they are full of confidence. We played well and should have beaten Hartlepool and, when you look back at the stats from the Yeovil game, we were comfortably the better team against them."

Wilcox went on to add that his team will get stronger once his summer signings have settled at the club.

"I won't be saying this in two months' time but it does take time for people to bed in," he reasoned. "We have already seen the potential of the new players though.

"I think Scott Flinders has been outstanding in goal and James Berrett will score more goals. Vadaine Oliver has also looked a real handful up front and I am sure he will get on the scoresheet soon.

"There would be no better time for him to do that than today against his old club."

The City chief also reckons this term's team are equipped to deal with physical and footballing challenges.

"If teams want to be physical, we can mix it with them and match them in that respect," he argued. "Equally, if sides want to come and play football we can do that and you need to be able to do both sides of the game in League Two."