NIGEL WORTHINGTON wants York City to keep their “winning mentality”.

The Minstermen chief was “delighted” to pick up three points at Northampton Town as a 2-0 victory made it three successive wins for his team and lifted them to 14th in the Sky Bet League Two table.

Worthington was particularly pleased with the way his team managed the game after forging in front but insisted his squad must continue their momentum.

“For a good hour, it was a real grind and then the game started to stretch out a bit,” Worthington said of the Sixfields success. “We managed it very well. The goal gives you a little lift and then we go and get the second one.

“Before the game you think ‘come away with a point at least – from here it is a good result’ but I am delighted to get all three. They deserve it.

“I thought we had a good shape about us, a good solidness, which is important. We must keep that.

“To go 2-0 and then manage the game the way we did was pleasing. We have been up before this season and we’ve lost. In recent weeks, we have been up and kept it but I thought there was a real reassurance out on the pitch that we were in control of the situation.”

“It is as long as you keep winning,” Worthington added when asked if the situation was now looking brighter at Bootham Crescent.

“If we can pick another three points up in front of our own supporters next week, who knows where that will take us? Three wins on the bounce is very good at any level of football and we must try to keep that momentum and endeavour and winning mentality there.”

Worthington heaped praise on debutant Russell Penn, who commanded the midfield after signing from Cheltenham Town at the start of the week.

“What an outstanding debut,” he said. “That’s what we are looking for.

“We know big Lewis (Montrose) will go into the tackle but Russell has got that tenacity, gets the timing right, and he’s determined.

“I think the likes of him in there sets off everyone else around him.

“I was very pleased. He was very solid, hard working and composed on the ball.”

Worthington expects striker Ryan Jarvis to recover quickly after the late substitute had to come off only three minutes after taking to the pitch following a bang on a knee.

• Winger Ashley Chambers, who left York City last week, scored an equaliser for Cambridge United in their 2-2 FA Trophy draw with Luton Town on Saturday.