Goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik says York City must learn to keep clean sheets and manage games better

Olejnik had kept his only clean sheet during eight outings for the Minstermen during the previous weekend’s 2-0 triumph over Tranmere.

But he was beaten in less than four minutes at Sixfields and went on to concede another early goal in the second half before the scoring was wrapped up late on.

Highlighting the lessons to be learnt from the Cobblers defeat, the former Austrian Under-21 international said: “Saturday was a complete contrast to the Tranmere game and we will need to address what we did differently against Northampton.

“The most disappointing thing for me is we were unable to shut up shop. When you’re not playing at your best, you need to manage the game a bit better and that does not always mean pretty football.

“We knew that they start games well, but did not deal with that well enough. I probably made a poor decision for the first goal, which gave them a good start and we never really got going during the rest of the game.”

Olejnik came out of the match with some personal credit after saving a second-half penalty from Sky Bet League Two’s leading marksman Marc Richards and making other eye-catching stops to deny Lawson D’Ath and Ricky Holmes.

But the Peterborough net-minder admitted he was hurt and frustrated by a chastening afternoon, explaining: “On a personal level, it’s always nice to make saves, but it was massively frustrating to go back to that kind of performance after the last two games.

“It really hurt. We had a good chat in the dressing room and know we have to put things right on Saturday in terms of the performance.

“You must put in consistent displays at this level because that will normally get you results.”

Olejnik also played down the quality of his spot-kick save, claiming it was the result of guess work, adding: “It’s nice to get a penalty save because, at 2-0, you still have a bit of a chance to get back into the game.

“We always watch players’ penalties on DVDs though and I knew he went bottom left with the last one he didn’t score. I guessed he would go that way again, so it was just a gamble really.”

Richards had earlier seen first-half penalty appeals rejected after tumbling over Olejnik, who bore no grudge towards the home striker despite declaring that there had been no contact between the two players.

“It wasn’t a penalty because I didn’t touch him,” Olejnik said. “Maybe from some angles it looked like one but I saw him coming and pulled my hands away.

“He didn’t really appeal either but that’s all part of the game and how penalties get given these days.

“I’ve played with players who do it constantly to get penalties and I got myself in a bad position but got away with it.”

Olejnik also revealed that he would have been red-carded and received a one-match ban had Chris Hackett not scored the Cobblers’ opening goal after the City keeper handled the ball outside his area.

“I thought I was inside the box and, at the last second, I tried to pull my arm away, but the ball brushed my hand,” the Vienna- born shot-stopper explained.

“Apparently, I would have been sent off but the referee gave the goal, which was lucky for me.”

Olejnik is now hoping that a return to Bootham Crescent to face Exeter this weekend will help the team bounce back from their Sixfields shocker.

“Our fans play a big part at home because they really get us going and we need that during the games we have left until the end of the season,” he said. “We will be working hard this week to ensure the supporters have something to cheer about on Saturday."