YORK City boss Chris Brass will recall captain Darren Edmondson for Tuesday night's home match with Lincoln after naming him as a substitute against Mansfield on Saturday.

Right wing-back Edmondson was given a "rest" by Brass and replaced in the starting line-up by Richard Cooper.

Lee Bullock was also left out as the City player-manager begins to consider his options if the 22-year-old midfielder does leave for Cardiff after last week's trial in Wales.

Both players entered the fray in the second half and Brass explained the reasons for their omissions afterwards, saying: "There was a number of reasons why Lee Bullock was a substitute. There was the fact that he had not trained with us all week and, in case anything happens with Cardiff, we have to look at different avenues.

"With Darren Edmondson, we just had to give him a rest but he's had his rest and will come back in against Lincoln. It's as simple as that.

"It was just to do with the amount of games we are playing but we missed him slightly and I think that showed a little bit."

Brass also joined the legion of Football League and Premiership managers questioning the new interpretation of the offside law.

Mansfield's second goal in their 2-1 victory was scored by Richard Pacquette despite the fact that the on-loan QPR striker had been standing in front of City goalkeeper Mark Ovendale in an offside position when Liam Lawrence first swung in a free kick.

Brass was disappointed to fall victim to the controversial new ruling but was more displeased with his side's failure to make an effective aerial challenge on Pacquette.

He said: "Their player came back from an offside position to score but it was just a bad goal to concede in my eyes. I'm not sure whether anybody knows what the ruling is at the moment.

"I think they are trying to do something behind the scenes to clarify things but that makes it difficult while the transition goes on. Unfortunately, we were on the wrong end of it against Mansfield.

"It needs looking at but that's not why, in my opinion, we lost. Mansfield slighly edged us and I think, until the 66th minute, they wanted it that bit more than my team.

"One or two of our players looked a bit nervous and I don't know for what reasons. Maybe they were trying to over impress and give the fans something back.

"We just started to play too late and gave ourselves a mountain to climb coming back from two goals. We showed so much energy, fight and a willingness to go forward at the death but why can't we do that from the first whistle? That's something we will have to address."

In-form leading scorer Lee Nogan, 34, netted his ninth goal of the season to give City a route back into the game midway through the second half.

His 40-yard lob was an instinctive strike after goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington's poor clearance and, afterwards, Brass admitted that he is delighted his assistant has agreed a two-year extension to his player-coach contract.

He said: "I wanted Lee as my right-hand man and he's gone out there and rose to the challenge. He's continued to perform on the field as well as off it and enjoyed another good display against Mansfield.

"He's been one of our consistent performers all season and I can't see any reason why he can't continue to do it for, at least, another couple of years."

Darren Dunning received his tenth booking of the season which earns him a two-match ban, missing the home game against Scunthorpe (February 28) and the trip to Oxford (March 3).

Saturday's game might have coincided with Valentine's Day but there appeared to be no love lost between Dunning and Stags midfielder Craig Disley.

Dunning was cautioned for a late challenge on Disley, who exacted personal retribution just two minutes later by taking a kick at the Minstermen's captain for the day.

Updated: 10:47 Monday, February 16, 2004