PLAYER-BOSS Chris Brass is demanding the 'full 90' from his Minstermen after York City suffered a second successive defeat.

A barnstorming second half display from City proved in vain as Rochdale claimed a 2-1 victory at Bootham Crescent.

Both Dale's goals came in a first half when City struggled to assert their authority and Brass admitted City provided too little, too late.

"I thought we started quite well and had a good chance to score early on from a corner but we just expected it to happen after that," he reasoned.

"We shouldn't have to wait until the second half and to be two goals down to take the impetus, and I'm disappointed by that.

"In the second half, I didn't have any complaints and it is unfortunate we didn't get anything from the game. But we are chasing the game by then.

"We have to make sure we give 90-minute performances. We can't rely on playing for 50 or 60 minutes and then expect to be at the right end of the table.

"We are very fortunate that our earlier results mean we are still at the business end, but if we want to stay up there then you have to do it from the start."

Brass added: "It is a big learning curve. We are asking a lot of the players. They are young and are playing different systems but we are going to have to learn quickly."

The City chief said he was delighted with the contribution of striker Aron Wilford, who made his League debut as a second half substitute and bagged a goal within minutes of entering the fray.

"There are positives from the game," insisted Brass. "We stuck by our beliefs and continued to play the right way and Aron has come on and has got a goal.

"He looked positive and ruffled a few feathers so that was pleasing."

Brass said he had no complaints with Stuart Wise's dismissal, the young City defender reacting to a late tackle from Rochdale's Paul Connor, who also saw red.

"It was handbags but the letter of the law means you can't react," said Brass. "Stuart has reacted to a bad challenge but if he hadn't I think it would have been one red card and Stuart would have stayed on the pitch."

City have now had three red cards since the start of the season, as many as they got in the previous two seasons combined.

Updated: 11:07 Monday, September 08, 2003