SWINDON Town manager Phil Brown anticipates tomorrow’s FA Cup first round tie against National League North outfit York City to act as a stepping stone which can lead to a positive League Two run before Christmas.

Traditional 3pm on Saturday home fans haven’t watched Town record a win since they reversed a two-goal deficit to record a 3-2 victory against newly-promoted Tranmere Rovers back in mid-August.

Turbulent away form, coupled with a winless league run at home stretching back 12 weeks, means Town enter tomorrow’s opening round ‘banana skin’ tie under pressure.

But Brown insists that a confidence-boosting win against Sam Collins’ side tomorrow can inspire further positive results in upcoming league fixtures against Carlisle United, Port Vale, Stevenage and Newport County.

“I firmly believe this game will be a nice stepping stone to a decent run in the league,” said Brown.

“This game is an opportunity for us to do something positive.

“As I’ve said many times, I’m still waiting for our season to kick-start – it hasn’t started yet.

“There’s nothing like a cup run to get that form going.

“We’ve got an ex-league club coming to town – it’s not like they are a non-league club, they’ve not always played at that level.

“York is a club with good tradition and good history.

“I remember locking horns with York City many times as a player. They’re a good club, a well-run club.”

York boss Collins, meanwhile, will have two links to Saturday’s game having been registered as a player under Brown’s control and previously featuring for Swindon during a brief loan spell at the County Ground 11 years ago.

Collins departed Hull City in 2008, the season in which Brown sensationally guided the Tigers to their first promotion to the Premier League in the club’s history.

Having watched Collins’ men crash to a 3-0 loss at Spennymoor Town last week, Brown admits York will pose a different threat come 3pm tomorrow.

He said: “I know the team and the formation that they put out when I went to watch them at Spennymoor.

“They are playing with a lack of confidence. But league form is put to one side in these encounters, it always is.

“They will come to the County Ground and want to try and turn things around.

“We’ve got an opportunity at home to start our home form off, and also start the season off.

“We’ve got home games following quickly after this match.

"The County Ground needs to be a place we’re comfortable and happy to play football.

“It’s a great surface, I’d really like for the players and supporters to engage with each other. That includes myself, but I want the players to feel like this is home.

“There’s only one way to do that – and that’s to turn up on Saturday, give a good account of ourselves and get our name in the hat for the second round.”