Storm clouds darken

Sentiment gets such short shrift in football. Just ask Alan Little.

City defender Barry Jones and Notts County forward Kevin Rapley twist through the air as they challenge for a high ball

City's Wayne Hall slides in to tackle Notts County's Francis Tierney as he bears down on goal, with Martin Garratt moving in to help

Peter Beadle, scorer of Notts County's fourth goal, controls the ball as City's Barry Jones takes a swing at it

Six years to the very day he first took charge as manager he witnessed the stretching of the worst York City run in his reign.

Two points from a possible 30, ten games without a win. Now just the number of goals scored separate City from the relegation quartet. What a way to celebrate.

All this after City marked their outing to mud-caked Meadow Lane with the startling statistic of actually drawing first blood. However by game's end it was City who were bruised and battered - out-muscled by their Nottingham rivals.

With just 11 games left the darkest days have descended over Little's managerial dominion. The light is closing in quicker than on a peephole camera with City desperately short of confidence, if not in commitment.

No-one could balk at the level of endeavour. But it's all effort, no expertise. Defensively they cannot get near a clean sheet, chances created are rare, and up front the goal flow of the first half of the season is now a trickle.

Cilla Black never orchestrated a bigger surprise than that which graced the game after just 96 seconds. City went in front. Yes, the past-masters of chasing a game had the advantage.

Unhurried and unmarked County captain Ian Richardson unwisely guided a back header towards goalkeeper Darren Ward. Waiting panther-like to pounce was Rodney Rowe. Eight yards out he jack-knifed his neck muscles, looping the ball over Ward. The net bulged along with City's amazement at the gift.

The spring in City's step visibly rose as they made a succession of blocks and tackles. Most conspicuous was Martin Reed, whose bravery led him to being whacked across the head in one aerial challenge. It was to prove a fateful collision.

For in the space of seven minutes at the midway point of the first-half City caved in to three County strikes with the dazed Reed at the unfortunate centre of it all.

Richardson struck the leveller, the ball kindly cannoning off Reed from Alex Dyer's steepling cross, which beamed away from Andy Warrington.

Evidence that good fortune seldom befalls the strugglers flared when Martin Garratt's dribble deceived defender Mark Warren, who felled the City man a yard into the penalty area. But for the second successive week a flagrant spot-kick was denied.

The cost was doubly expensive. Within minutes of the Minstermen possibly being back in front County struck twice.

A zipped-in cross from Fran Tierney was met by Richardson, edging just in front of Reed for a nod down that Warrington got a hand to only for it squirt in off an upright. Less than a minute later Tierney thrashed away Beadle's knock-down from another towering Dyer cross.

The shock of the game being turned on its head was almost too incredulous to bear.

To their credit City gamely stroked the ball about as well as they have done in 1999, the distribution level stepped up with Mark Tinkler drafted on for an obviously discomfited Reed.

Even on a cabbage-patch pitch of cloying mud, which at one point sucked a boot off Richard Cresswell's foot, City swept passes around neatly. That did not improve the mood of the City fans, who at half-time unfurled a 'Little out' banner to accompany their chants.

Terrace anger continued throughout the second-half as they watched City spread the ball prettily, though tediously without much edge or menace.

The one good move whisked the ball via Scott Jordan and Cresswell to Andy McMillan. His cross picked out Rowe unattended. But he virtually sidefooted a pass right at 'keeper Ward. What a contrast soon after. When Cresswell's long pass was cut out the ball was swatted up to Beadle. Imperiously he waltzed around McMillan and in the same movement unleashed a 30-yard crackshot that snapped into the net.

Consolation and it was barely that arrived four minutes from time. Jordan jabbed a clever feed to Cresswell, whose close control induced a foul from Warren. Cresswell crashed the spot-kick home without fear.

But there is dread now for the men in red dwarfed by County's considerable physical presence. If they need heart they need look no further than their hosts, whose conquest was the fourth on the spin after a ten-match run without a win.

But in Little's biggest fight in six years City now need giants.

Little ready for combat

Under-fire City boss expects rough ride at fans' forum

by Tony Kelly, Chief Sports Writer

Defiant Alan Little will dig in and take the flak as his York City charges plummet through Division Two.

Under-fire from the travelling supporters during Saturday's 4-2 collapse at Notts County, Little was bracing himself for a similarly rough reception at tonight's fans' forum at Queen Anne's School (7pm).

But while he conceded he had no ammunition with which to hit back he was going to stick to his principles.

Declared the City boss, whose marked his sixth season as City manager at County's Meadow Lane ground: "I care about this club, but things are not going right.

"I've been there, seen it, done it. But I have got to keep going. Until the powers that be decide it's not right for me I will be staying here. I will be digging in."

Besides the chants calling for the manager to go a banner was unfurled with the message 'Little out' at County, where City slipped to a 4-2 defeat after taking the lead within two minutes of the kick-off.

The result sent the Minstermen spiralling to 19th place, just two places and two points off the relegation zone. Without a win for ten games Little admitted it was hardly the best backdrop against which to go into the forum.

In terms of results Little conceded: "I am going into the forum totally naked. I have got no clout, no ammunition, no comeback."

Little said after the first exchange of views in November City started a mini-revival that took them into the top nine two days into the new year.

"But nothing else has really changed from the last forum. We are now still not getting results. But the club is strong and solid and will not hide.

"The team is struggling desperately for a win. It looks a little desperate at the moment. That needs changing."

As he reflected on the County match, where City got off to the ideal start of a Rodney Rowe goal in the opening minutes, Little refused to offer the non-award of a penalty with the scores locked at 1-1 and the concussion suffered by Martin Reed as an excuse.

"It did look an obvious penalty, but I think County should have had a spot-kick and we should have another one late in the game," said Little.

"The disappointing thing was we did not defend at three crosses, which led to their goals."

Of the dreadful County playing-surface - it was soggy, muddy and patched-up - Little said it was awkward, but added the hosts adapted to it better.

"We over-passed and they just overpowered us. County's approach was better than ours. We need to hurt teams more."

City were today making a further check on defender Reed, who was reported to have blurred vision after his early collision.

Match facts

2min: Ill-judged header back from Ian Richardson is pounced on by Rodney Rowe who back-heads in. 0-1.

8min: Peter Beadle bursts through only to be denied by Andy Warrington, Martin Reed then blocking Kevin Rapley's follow-up.

22min: Deep cross from Alex Dyer swings away from Warrington, hits the unsighted Reed and falls to Richardson to score. 1-1.

24min: Martin Garratt fouled inside the County box, but referee Peter Walton signals a free-kick six inches outside to City's ire.

28min: Richardson nips ahead of Reed to flick the ball in from Fran Tierney's cross. 2-1.

29min: Another high cross from Dyer is nodded down by Beadle for Tierney to lash in. 3-1.

57min: Great cross from Gordon Connelly is headed away by Matt Redmile as Richard Cresswell steams in.

71min: Clear and ten yards out Rowe smacks a grubber straight at Darren Ward with the goal gaping.

73min: Warrington fists away a curling free-kick from Dennis Pearce.

74min: Wonder goal from Beadle, whose left-foot drive whistles in from 30 yards. 4-1.

86min: Wizardry from Cresswell sees him upended, City's top scorer powering home his 19th goal of the season. 4-2.

Tap & Spile Man of the match

Andy Warrington.

Again showed commendable bravery and anticipation especially in dashing from line. Not at fault with any of the four goals, his defence leaving him unprotected.

Fans' panel 1998-9

Gary Chatterton, Age 31

Hopefully the supporters will get answers to some of the questions that need answering. And the main question has to be whether we can turn it around before it's too late.

Gary Duncanson, Age 18

It is a good idea to have another one, but the club have to take notice of what the fans say. And now the fans want to see Little go.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.