YORK City boss Nigel Worthington has conceded that his struggling side’s current form is like “chalk and cheese” when compared to last season’s play-off push.

The Minstermen lost 2-0 at Dagenham & Redbridge and have now only won one of their last 15 matches – against a ten-man Stevenage team.

Former City winger Ashley Chambers set up Joss Labadie for both goals at Victoria Road as the Daggers climbed above their opponents in the lower reaches of Sky Bet League Two.

The manner of his team’s latest loss upset Worthington, who said: “Up to an hour, at 1-0, we were in the game.

“We had three or four half-chances and got some good balls into their box but, when the second goal went in, it was game over really, by the looks of it. We accepted defeat far too readily after the second goal and, if you compare us to the second half of last season, it’s like chalk and cheese.

“We’re making things hard for ourselves at the moment with the decision making. That’s something we’ve got to continue looking at.

“Two weeks ago, pre-Burton, we looked like a decent team. We looked solid and like we could score a goal.

“In the last fortnight, though, we have looked a less-than-average side and that’s not good enough. We’re conceding too easily, not scoring and we’re not getting bodies in the box, so the whole package needs looking at, but we’ve got to keep working and plugging away.”

The nature of Labadie’s brace also disappointed Worthington with midfielder Luke Summerfield lunging in for the first goal and the former Notts County midfielder heading in from inside the six-yard box for the second.

“Both goals we conceded were pretty poor,” the City chief lamented. “We went to ground for the first strike and their lad has headed it in from four or five yards for the second, which shouldn’t be the case.

“We’ve got to get back to doing what we do on the training ground during match days because what I am seeing at the moment is two different things.”

Worthington switched from his favoured 4-4-2 formation to a 4-2-3-1 line-up for the Essex clash, fielding four players in Wes Fletcher, Jake Hyde, Michael Coulson and Ryan Jarvis, who can all operate as centre forwards.

Explaining that change in tactics, the Minstermen boss added: “We tried to get as many goalscorers on the pitch as we could to put Dagenham on the back foot.”

Jarvis operated on the right-hand side of the attacking trio supporting lone central striker Wes Fletcher and, on his first start since the opening week of the campaign, stayed on for the full match.

On his contribution, Worthington said: “He did a job for us. He was determined to try and last as long as he could and he completed 90 minutes, which he will be pleased with, as I am.

“He will need to recover now and be ready for the next game. You find out about your players in times like these and see who can stand up to the challenge.

“We are a group and we are in it together, come sink, win or draw.”

Worthington went on to point out that his players must now show resolve to regain their self-belief, saying: “There is no doubt that confidence can dip after a couple of defeats then you have to be mentally strong enough as individuals to deal with that.”