YORK City left-back Dave Merris feels that now is the wrong time to judge manager Chris Brass and his new team.

The Minstermen were booed off the pitch after Saturday's 3-0 home defeat against Hereford and lie 16th in the Nationwide Conference table after three games.

But Merris, who made his first appearance of the season on Saturday as a second-half substitute, insists that morale is "brilliant" at Bootham Crescent and that the team are still capable of being promoted this season.

He said: "There's no way people should be talking about the gaffer's position. He's got to be given a chance.

"The Conference is a hard league and I don't think people give it enough credit. It's very close to the Third Division in terms of standards even though there's a difference between the part-time and full-time clubs.

"We have lost two and won one and you can't make judgements on that. You have to give the gaffer time. It's difficult to say things after just three games."

City have conceded five goals in their two defeats this season against Aldershot and Hereford, leading to criticism of Brass' new-look back-line.

But Merris points out that any defence containing four new players, is bound to suffer from teething problems.

Steve Davis, Chris Clarke, Shaun Smith and goalkeeper Paul Crichton have all been selected for the Minstermen's opening three fixtures after signing in the summer and Merris said: "At times, it seems to be one ball over the top that has just caught us out and, in another way, you could say that there's three lads in defence that are new this season.

"I think we have just got to keep working on stuff. You hear people saying things but it's the beginning of the season and we've got long enough to sort things out and get everything right, starting at Gravesend on Saturday.

"We had a meeting yesterday and had a look at the game again on video and, to be quite honest, from what we saw they only had two attempts on goal in the first half and scored from both of them. We held our own for 20 minutes and there were no real problems but they got a goal and it was a bit of a let down after that.

"Morale in the team is still brilliant though and training this week has been brilliant. There's never been any doubts about our ability in the club at all and everybody is still upbeat believing we will be there or thereabouts if not automatically promoted at the end of the season.

"What happened on Saturday has happened and, as a team, we have got to bounce back now."

Merris, 23, will be hoping to be part of that "bouncing back" process at a Gravesend team who are unbeaten in 15 matches since February.

The former Harrogate Town defender made 47 league and cup appearances for City last season but is yet to make his first start of the current campaign.

Smith and teenage winger Bryan Stewart have been preferred on the left flank but Merris is now putting pressure on both players' places, having been used in an advanced role during pre-season.

He said: "It does not really bother me which position I play because I like going forward and I like defending. As long as I get a game, I don't have a preference.

"Despite Saturday's result, I was happy just to be on the pitch again. It's been a bit frustrating on the sidelines but you can't do anything apart from take your chance when it comes.

"I hope I've given the manager something to think about."

Updated: 11:04 Wednesday, August 25, 2004