JAMES FORD was far from getting carried away despite kicking off his head coaching career in sensational fashion.

Ford’s York City Knights outfit put aside their troubled pre-season and ongoing off-field strife by hammering London Skolars 78-10 in a stunning opening game of term to storm through the first round of the iPro Sport League One Cup.

They were then drawn at home to Newcastle Thunder in round two and, although it is not known where that tie in a fortnight’s time will be played, given the club have begun the season homeless amid the community stadium saga, Ford was focusing only on his side’s on-field performance – and their need to play better despite a breathtaking beginning.

“Regardless of the outcome, we were never going to get too disheartened or too excited,” said the rookie boss, who downplayed the performance as “mixed”.

“There’s a lot of distance between now and the League One play-offs and who will be successful is about who improves the most between now and then.

“We will get better.

“I didn’t go into the game thinking about the scoreline. I was just focusing on our performance. Some aspects of it were really good but some need improving and it’s my job to ensure we improve.”

Ford’s new-look Knights bagged 14 tries in all on the Skolars’ state-of-the-art artificial surface, with debutant Nev Morrison finishing with a superb hat-trick – despite missing an earlier sitter when inexplicably dropping the ball while in the clear over the try-line.

Fellow new boys Pete Aspinall (2) and Liam Cunningham and the returning Jake Joynt also scored.

Said Ford: “I’m pleased with the result. I thought the performance was mixed.

“There were some really pleasing aspects, including the increased level of physicality in defence for patches we dominated. We also looked cohesive with the ball at times and scored some eye-catching tries.

“But it was mixed. There are one or two areas we will be looking at that we’ll need to do better.

“In this division you don’t want to be conceding tries here and there.

“We want to pride ourselves on being ruthless, with everyone knowing what they need to be doing at all times.

“Our standards are high – that’s what you have in a good environment.”

The Knights will meet Newcastle on March 15, after next week’s Challenge Cup third round tie at South Wales Scorpions.

The Thunder, who beat Oxford 56-20, are one of the pre-season favourites for the League One crown after their switch from Gateshead and related investment.

Ford said: “Newcastle have recruited well and made some eye-catching signings from overseas, and they were already a good team. They will be a tough test for us.

“It’s one that could go either way but if we perform how we can perform we will have a good crack at progressing.”

As for where that tie will be played and the club’s homelessness, Ford said: “The administrators of the club will deal with that.

“I’m sure they’re working hard and I’m convinced they’ve got the club’s best interests at heart. I think everyone in York has, maybe people are just coming at things from different angles.

“I’m just concentrating on coaching and the players are concentrating on training and playing.”