'Biggest game of the season' - Maynard

York City manager Stuart Maynard has called Saturday's game at Aldershot Town "the biggest of the season" as the Minstermen push for automatic promotion.

The North Yorkshire club are second in the National League and two points adrift of leaders Rochdale, with nine games to play.

Aldershot are 16th following three successive defeats, but those losses came after an impressive run of nine victories in 13.

Maynard told BBC Radio York that John Coleman's Shots are a dangerous team.

"If you look at their form, if he'd come in at the start of the season, they'd be right up in the mix in the play-offs," Maynard said.

"At the minute, they're in play-off form. If you look at the points return in the past 10, 11 games they're playing very well - apart from their last three games.

"They're going to want to put those last three results right. We know that gives them something to fight for. We've just got to be fully focused. We don't look at league position, ever."

Aldershot's losses did come against three sides in the top five - Carlisle, Forest Green Rovers and Rochdale.

"I think they deserved more points from those games. They're a strong outfit, they make the game difficult for you," Maynard added.

"There are big moments and fine margins within games. In those matches they've created chances and not been critical whereas during the good run they were taking their chances.

"Ultimately, football is both boxes. I believe that when you play the top teams in this division, you have to defend better than perhaps you do against other teams.

"We're up there for a reason, and we're more clinical. If you look at the goals scored amongst the teams at the top end, we score more and need less chances to convert."

Shots boss Coleman replaced Tommy Widdrington in October and the Hampshire side have climbed from one point above the relegation places to relative safety, nine points clear of the drop zone.

Maynard says he has huge respect for his opposite number.

"John is an experienced manager, and has managed at a higher level, and he knows how to make these games very difficult tactically," he said.

"At this time of the season, everyone is playing for something, even teams mid-table. Players will be playing for their shirts and will want to show what they're all about.

"That's how I see Aldershot. That's why they've gone on the run they've been on. John has come in and done a great job there."