United will need a superhuman effort if they are to reach the play-offs this season after a 0-0 draw at York tonight. Only wins will do now  despite keeping their unbeaten run going against a York side battling for their lives to stay in the same league that United are so desperate to get out of.

 An unexpected sprinkler starting after a minute of the game meant a delay of five minutes before it had really got going, but then United started to move the ball well and push the relegation threatened Minstermen back, with Adam Muray once gain orchestrating things from his free role behind James Constable. It was almost inevitably Constable who created the first opening, pressurising Danny Parslow into an error then crossing for Simon Clist to drill in a left footed effort which brought a fine flying save from home keeper Michael Ingham.

York's best moments were coming from right winger Onome Sodje whose break on 23 caused problems which United looked to have dealt with as the ball deflected wide left, but winger Brown retrieved it and crossed and the  ball smacked Damian Batt's forearm as he protected his face. It was handball, but a yard outside the area judging by Batt's protests. Ref Richard West was convinced it was inside the box though and pointed to the spot.

In recent weeks it has been Constable getting the headlines but Billy Turley remains a formidable barrier at the other end of the pitch and has an excellent record at saving penalty kicks. Sodje stepped up and fired low to Turley's right but the keeper swooped to save well and make sure his side didn't give York what would have been a priceless head start.

Turley had been the key man for 45 minutes and had to make another good save to stop Sodje in the last minute of the first half as he broke clear of a Kev Sandwith challenge, then ended the half making another low save to keep out a Smith daisy cutter, leaving it scoreless at the break. United have played better, as boss Chris Wilder will have emphasised...

Attacking the superb 356 fans who had made the long midweek journey The U's made a tactical change after the break to move Lewis Haldane closer to Constable up front, then took off Craig Nelthorpe and moved Haldane out wide with Yemi Odubade up front. For the first time they started to apply real pressure, but still weren't getting a clear sight of goal and once again they were grateful to Turley on 63 as he scrambled across to parry  a mishit shot from McBreen. 

United had a spectacular effort from Chapman go straight into Ingham's gloves from 25 yards on 75 minutes and with both sides going for the win it was a decent game to watch for any neutral who had somehow found their way in. The fact that both teams needed all three points was meaning gaps appearing at both ends but who would exploit the space better?

It was almost McBreen on 78 as he squirted a shot across the face of goal after a collector's item of an error from Luke Foster, otherwise impeccable at his former club, but it was a night with defences on top and nobody able to find that clinical touch to win the game. When the chance did come with five seconds left Constable blasted against the bar on the turn and the game was over.

In other circumstances you'd be happy with an away point but one point just makes it clear: Four games left and four wins required. A time for do or die and a chance to become heroes.

Get behind them against Wrexham on Saturday as the final countdown begins.

Att: 2,268

Away: 356

Report by Chris Williams. Photos by Darrell 'sprinkled' Fisher!!!

See it all in GALLERY

Hear the reaction in Yellow World