YORK City boss Russ Wilcox lamented a “very harsh” scoreline after watching his side go out 3-0 in the Capital One Cup at Swansea.

The Minstermen feel behind to a second-minute Nathan Dyer goal that Wilcox argued should have been ruled out for offside.

Despite City keeper Scott Flinders making a string of excellent saves, the visitors then made a contest of the second round tie with James Berrett hitting the bar and Vadaine Oliver curling inches over with only Swedish keeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt.

But a deflected Matt Grimes effort doubled the Premier League side’s advantage just past the hour and sub Marvin Emnes added a third at the death.

On the margin of defeat, Wilcox said: “It was very harsh. You need everything to go your way when you come to a place like Swansea and their first goal should have been offside and the second was a big deflection.

“But the lads showed great character to get a foothold in the game after conceding such an early goal. We needed that bit of luck for the ball to go in when Bez hit the bar, then it would have been game on, but the positive was we created three or four good opportunities.

“We’ve just got to be a bit more clinical, but the players and our fans, who didn’t stop singing from the first whistle, were an absolute credit to the football club.”

First-year pro Callum Rzonca, meanwhile, was given his debut as a 71st-minute substitute with Wilcox adding: “What a fantastic place for Callum to make his debut.

“That’s not normally the case when you’re a League Two player and now I want him to cherish that moment but, rather than live off it, strive for more.”

Transfer-listed left-back Femi Ilesanmi also earned praise following his first start this term, as he locked horns with the dangerous Dyer.

“How Femi has responded to being transfer-listed has told me everything I already knew about him,” Wilcox said. “We all lack certain things but he lacks nothing in terms of professionalism, attitude and application.

“That goes a long way in football. He got a bit tired in the second half when they were giving Dyer the ball all the time but he did an outstanding job.

“Players respond to being transfer-listed in different ways and he’s shown heart and character.”