YORK City were the better side against Crawley Town on Saturday but manager Billy McEwan was not disheartened by the failure to take maximum points.

He said: "It would have been nice to start with a win but we got a clean sheet and a point and controlled the game for long periods, limiting them to one decent chance and a corner. We started very well and, if we had got a goal in the first 25 minutes, we would probably have gone on to win handsomely but we were playing against a team that finished last season in mid-table and were physical so it wasn't too bad."

Uncompromising Crawley committed 17 fouls compared to the Minstermen's five with Clayton Donaldson being the subject of some particularly meaty challenges but McEwan said: "One or two of our players took a bit of stick but you have to match that in this league because if you are soft and what I call a cardboard cut-out player you get wafted out of the way.

"I told Clayton before the game that if he keeps the ball moving they won't kick him but if he runs with it they will. Hopefully, he will learn not to give them a chance to kick him."

McEwan will also place more emphasis on set-piece deliveries at the training ground after ten corners and 17 free kicks were not converted into goalscoring chances.

The City boss added: "Our delivery at set plays was disappointing. To be fair, we have not done too much work on them yet and I have to hold my hand up for that.

"I am sure it wasn't intentional from the guys who were taking them but they know that if they are going to take them they will have to deliver decent balls."

Updated: 11:16 Monday, August 15, 2005