YORK City boss Jackie McNamara has expressed his determination to prove people wrong following calls for his sacking.

Chants of “Jackie Out” rang out at Bootham Crescent, along with cries of “You’re Not Fit to Wear the Shirt” directed at the players, as relegated City were defeated 4-1 by promotion-chasing Bristol Rovers during their last home match of the season.

Billy Boden’s brace set the Pirates on their way to maximum points with Kenny McEvoy’s 81st-minute consolation – the hosts’ only on-target shot of the afternoon – being scored in between further strikes from Jermaine Easter and Lee Mansell.

The final whistle saw one angry home supporter invade the pitch and confront young loan players Bradley Fewster and Luke Hendrie before being led off the pitch by a steward.

On the abuse levelled at him, meanwhile, McNamara said: “I understand the frustration, but there’s nobody more frustrated than me. I feel my hands are tied a little bit, because I’m waiting for the season to finish, so we can change and freshen things up.

“Since coming here, I’ve tried to improve things and get over the line, so we could change things that needed changing in the summer. It would be a sore one for myself, therefore, if there was to be a change and somebody else was brought in after what we’ve been through.

“I want to instil my own things, show what I’ve done in my career and get the backing to prove people wrong by making changes for the good of the club and, hopefully, that’s what I will be judged on.”

McNamara went on to accuse his players of being scared despite their fate this season having already been sealed.

“There were too many players off their game and Bristol were the hungrier team,” he declared. “I thought some of our players were suffering from a lack of confidence and looked afraid, but the pressure should have been off.

“We’re relegated now, so there was nothing to fear and it was a chance for the players to express themselves, so I don’t understand why they would be scared. I had an abundance of bravery and the fight to take responsibility in my career and I want to instil that in the players who represent me and this football club.

“I asked some of the players to look in the mirror after this game, but maybe some are waiting for the season to be over and waiting for whatever they’re going to do next.”

McEvoy, who is out of contract at the end of the season, scored after coming on as a second-half substitute having only played one minute in the previous six games.

But City chief McNamara appeared to question whether the ex-Tottenham winger possesses the necessary fighting qualities to prosper in the National League next term, saying: “He put one good cross in and took his goal, but we didn’t find him with the ball at times.

“He has ability but there are other things we are looking for that, sometimes, you don’t get in academies. We’re playing real football and you need to stand up and fight.

“We will need that next season because we’re going to places that won’t be pretty, where you’ve got to roll up your sleeves and earn the right to play and you’ve got to be mentally strong. Bristol Rovers changed their mentality and showed fight to get out of the division straight away, while Cheltenham have done the same after changing 17 players.”

Vice-captain Dave Winfield – another whose current City deal will expire this summer – was presented with the Billy Fenton Clubman of the Year award before the game, but McNamara also queried the 28-year-old centre back’s consistency during the campaign, saying: “He has shown an improvement in certain bits, but you’d still like to see a bit more consistency.

“Like a lot of the players, there are attributes there that have helped us on occasions. He’s scored a couple of good goals and his leadership has been good at times, but I still think there’s a good bit of improvement in him and all of them.”

Only six players – Scott Flinders, James Berrett, Matty Dixon, Vadaine Oliver, Reece Thompson and Jake Hyde – are contracted to the club next season but, in his clearest indication yet that some of those might be transfer-listed, McNamara added: “We’ve got a few players under contract who it would be better, maybe, if they went somewhere else.

“If anybody is to stay, I need to know they are hurting enough to want to help the club get back into the league and I’m looking at that closely.”