Five Things We Learned from York City's 1-0 defeat at Tranmere

James Norwood’s stoppage-time header means York City have surrendered 12 points this season from the 85-minute mark and onwards in games. Those opposition goals amount to the difference between a place in the top two-thirds of the National League table and the club’s current position propping up the whole division.

Even if the four points lost, after 90 minutes has elapsed on the clock, were added to City’s tally that would prove sufficient to climb out of the relegation zone. Five equalisers and two winning goals have now been scored against the Minstermen on 85, 88 (x2), 89, 91, 93 and 95 minutes.

Gary Mills, himself, has seen three victories and a draw slip from his grasp in such circumstances, just ten win-less games into his second spell in charge at Bootham Crescent. The onus is, therefore, on his shoulders to provide a remedy to such a long-established problem.

Playing the ball up to a reliable target man who can keep possession is, of course, one option to relieve the anxiety of those final throes. For larger parts of the game, Jon Parkin offered that outlet but, as he turns 35 this month, the latter stages of a game will, unfortunately, mark the point where he naturally tires and it was noticeable at Prenton Park that one of the few balls he failed to hold up came just moments before Norwood’s match winner.

Nevertheless, as the clock ticks down, City must endeavour to pass with the same accuracy and care that had characterised most of their performance on the Wirral and frustrated the title contenders for long periods. Where players situate themselves on the pitch is also vital when a match is finely balanced during the closing stages.

Many struggling teams’ default approach is to retreat but, if that’s the case, then perhaps consider seeking defensive help, in the form of a tall player on the pitch or from the bench to operate alongside, or as a shield in front of, the centre backs – the opposite, if you like, of throwing forward a makeshift striker. Braver teams, meanwhile, will look to play further up the pitch, employ a higher defensive line and try and see out the rest of the game in the opposition’s half.

Whatever the choice, it is clear a definite tactical method must be settled upon to avoid the constant agonising sense of deja-vu that has typified the final minutes of City games for so long.

2 The current side are capable of playing a Gary Mills brand of football

For the opening 20 minutes, Tranmere were almost passed into submission, much to the frustration of an expectant home crowd, who had arrived expecting their players, who would finish the afternoon top of the table, to brush aside the team now positioned bottom of the pile. From the centre of the pitch, Adriano Moke was dictating the tempo of the game and the ball was sticking in forward positions.

The second half started in a similar manner and demonstrated that the Minstermen might just have the quality to compete with the division’s leading lights, let alone climb out of trouble. Mills built his reputation at Bootham Crescent through playing attractive, possession football during his first spell in charge and this match was the first, during his second stint, to suggest these players can strive towards playing in a similar fashion.

3 Jon Parkin and Rhys Murphy’s striking partnership excited

The Championship class of Parkin and lower-league goalscoring pedigree of Murphy looked a potent combination and a real breath of fresh air following so many misfiring front-lines in recent years. Intelligent players rarely require introductions and they struck up an immediate understanding.

Both unsettled the division’s strongest defence and, with Parkin beginning to threaten more just prior to Murphy’s injury, there was a real chance that the two players could have combined to cause an upset.

4 Yan Klukowski and Matt Fry are playing for their Bootham Crescent futures

New loan signing Aarran Racine’s illness on the eve of the game undeniably spared one of the Minstermen’s back three from being dropped. As experienced professionals, Klukowski and Fry have probably got the most to lose, but both defended with a commendable determination and put their bodies on the line for the cause.

They deserved the club’s first shut-out on the road in 15 months as a reward, prior to it being cruelly snatched away at the death.

5 Steve McNulty continues to defy footballing conventions

Such is the economy of defensive heavyweight McNulty’s movement on a pitch that he could be playing walking football – aside from the occasional comical wobble forward or sideways. The 33-year-old centre back has been an ever present, however, in a Tranmere team that have kept 12 clean sheets this season, as he attempts to pull off a National League title treble having previously been crowned a champion with Fleetwood and Luton.

Despite his considerable bulk and sluggish speed, McNulty is an example to many, who play in leagues he could never aspire to, about the value of anticipation and positional sense as a defender. He can knock the ball about a bit too.