GARY MILLS has rounded on any 4-3-3 critics after his York City side were booed off the pitch by certain sections of the Bootham Crescent crowd.

Following Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat to Monday night’s FA Cup first round replay hosts AFC Wimbledon, an indignant Mills defended his favoured formation.

Citing the system’s role in last season’s double Wembley-winning success, Minstermen boss Mills said: “Why would I change a formation that has won us lots of games and got us promoted?

“I’ve never heard such rubbish if people want us to change because we’ve lost one game of football. Over the last 12 months, the system has seen us play entertaining football and made us hard to beat.

“Saturday was our first defeat in seven games and the first time we haven’t created a lot of chances, but that doesn’t make us a bad team or me a bad manager.

“I got boos because we lost one game. I’m glad I wasn’t here when the team was losing every week before I was manager. It must have been horrendous.”

Mills added that he would shoulder the responsibility for Saturday’s display, saying: “We were second best all game.

“It was the poorest start we have made for a long, long time and didn’t get any better, hence we got what we deserved – nothing. It was a disappointing day but we haven’t had many.

“I believe we could have got something out of every other game this season but Saturday was the first time we didn’t deserve anything. Hopefully, it was a one off but I will sit back and look at my team selection and how we prepared.

“I have to stand up and be counted, take the blame and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Anybody who wants to be critical can criticise me because I am the manager.”