Vadaine Oliver welcomes York City's move away from "one-dimensional" football

The 23-year-old forward bagged a brace on his return from a three-match suspension during Tuesday night's 2-0 Johnstone's Paint Trophy victory over Doncaster.

Oliver had only managed to net once during 16 previous outings in Minstermen colours, including pre-season friendlies, but has welcomed what he believes is a change in the team ethos and his role within it.

He said: "It's always a boost to get your first goals at home and it was nice to prove what I'm capable of. I think, because I win a lot of aerial balls, we got into a habit before of looking for me to win flick-ons and that affected my ability to get goals.

"I am there to set people up when we play like that and it wasn't as if I was missing chances, because I wasn't getting any. On Tuesday, though, I could show other parts of my game and I prefer it when I can mix things up rather than just being one-dimensional.

"I like to run in behind and make different movements and, if we play like that, I'm confident I will get my goals. Like any striker, I want to be the top scorer.

"I was always the top scorer coming through Sheffield Wednesday's academy, so I'm used to getting goals and it's just about getting back to that."

Having been tasked with supplying chances earlier in the season, though, Oliver was quick to applaud the quality of Anthony Straker's cross for his first goal against Doncaster, adding: "It was a great ball in and, without that, the goal doesn't happen.

"I couldn't do much more than put it in the bottom corner and I thrive on that type of service."

Oliver also explained that his enforced absence has been a nail-biting ordeal, pointing out: "It was very frustrating. It's not nice being in the stand watching football.

"I much prefer to be out there and it was very nerve-wracking - a lot more than when you're playing - especially during the 2-2 draw with Cambridge, but maybe the suspension game me a chance to refocus and come back hungry. It was the perfect comeback really.

"I would have liked a hat-trick but I was getting tired a bit towards the end having missed three games and I think the gaffer brought me off to save me for the weekend."

The ex-Crewe forward admitted too that the ban had been more difficult to stomach following an unsuccessful appeal after the red card he was shown last month against Carlisle.

"I thought the sending off was very harsh and I was disappointed with the part their player - Raynes - who I played with at Mansfield, played in it," Oliver declared. "I did punch a player in the back though so it's something I must learn from.

"Their player clearly stamped on me and maybe I should have just gone down."

Oliver went on to stress that he hopes he has heard the last of the calls for manager Russ Wilcox's dismissal, which were prominent during the recent home games against Oxford and Cambridge.

He argued: "The fans might not think it but, even when they're just directing the boos and chants at the manager, it still has an affect on the boys because it kind of takes your focus away from the game. I can understand them being angry and upset but Tuesday night showed we can do good things if they stick with us.

"It was a really good result and we showed our quality against a good League One side. Hopefully, it was another step for the fans to get back onside and get behind the team."

Having helped former striking partner Reece Thompson get three goals earlier in the season and worked well in tandem with Michael Coulson for the first time against Doncaster, Oliver reckons he can forge strong partnerships with all of City's strikers.

"It was good to finally play with Michael," he said of Tuesday's frontline. "He was more the link-up person, as I had been with Reece (Thompson), which allowed me to get in behind and cause a threat to the defence.

"I'd also like to play up front with Rhys Turner because I liked the look of him when I was watching from the stand. His movement was really good and I think we would work really well together.

"With Sincs (Emile Sinclair) in training, we also have a good partnership and know where each other is going with our little flicks around the corner."

Ahead of tomorrow's trip to Luton, Oliver is confident, meanwhile, that he can trouble the hosts' powerful but immobile skipper Steve McNulty.

"I've played there a couple of times and it's a big pitch," he reasoned. "They've got a big, experienced centre-half in McNulty but he can't move, so if we move them around, we will be effective and I think we can cause them problems but, if we just put it on to his head, it will be a long day."

Despite City sitting seventh-bottom in League Two, with just two wins this term, Oliver is still setting his sights high, saying: "Our aim is to push for promotion and, with the players we have got, we can do that without a shadow of doubt. It's just about putting together a string of consistent results because we've shown we can play to a high standard against Doncaster.

"Everyone is buzzing about the Johnstone's Paint Trophy as well. We want to go as far as we can and we've shown we can knock League One sides out of competitions this season, so we've got no fear and are looking forward to seeing who we get next."