5 Things We Learned from York City's 1-0 defeat at Chorley

City chief Martin Gray signalled his intention to assemble a “horrible” squad at the end of last season, as he looked to remedy a soft centre that saw the team keep just three clean sheets following his arrival in September. But nobody in his side were as intimidating as no-nonsense Chorley defenders Andy Teague and Courtney Meppen-Walter at the weekend.

In four-and-a-half hours of football against the Magpies, City have only managed one goal – Connor Smith’s effort in last season’s 1-1 draw at Bootham Crescent – with lynchpin skipper Teague a consistent tower of strength in each fixture. His presence and persona is something City have been crying out for at the back for several seasons now and it is to be hoped that Hamza Bencherif and Joe Tait, if they are to be Gray’s preferred pairing this season, can punch their weight in defence and match the standards of a team who repeatedly punch above theirs in terms of their club’s status.

Opposing teams need to work hard for their goals against Chorley, for whom summer recruit Meppen-Walter looked a perfect fit. In contrast, the ease in which matchwinner Adam Blakeman was allowed to set his sights and fire past Adam Bartlett just before half-time will have irritated Gray though.

2 Russ Penn and Simon Heslop might need more assistance against three-man midfields

Gray has nailed his colours firmly to the mast in terms of his preference for 4-4-2 football this season. The number of occasions that the ball fell to Josh O’Keefe – Chorley’s deep-lying spare man in midfield – will have given him food for thought, though, in future games where experienced pair Penn and Heslop are outnumbered in that department of the pitch.

Occupied by other opposition players, neither man could push far enough up the field to restrict the space in which O’Keefe was free to operate, as Chorley were increasingly able to impose their 3-5-2 system on the game, while City struggled to get a stranglehold. Whether a wide player could tuck in when out of possession, one of the forwards drop a little deeper or the back four have the confidence to defend a higher line, the Minstermen will need to consider solutions to closing the considerable gap between their central midfielders and forwards that resulted in territory being ceded on Saturday and offensive play also becoming stretched.

3 The subs struggled to stake their claims for starts against Stockport tomorrow

City made all three of their changes in a nine-minute period after the hour mark – a crucial period of the game – but the reshuffles only succeeded in making the visitors’ play look more disjointed, with Gray admitting that too many hopeful long balls were punted forward as his team failed to create another opportunity until stoppage time. Adriano Moke was tasked with providing the missing midfield momentum, but spent more time fulfilling defensive responsibilities.

New forward Macaulay Langstaff needed to be sharper on the few occasions the ball fell favourably to him, while Jon Parkin, who will always present a strong case for action from the bench when a substitute if the team are misfiring given his goalscoring potential, needed a better standard of service than the scraps he was given to fend off.

4 David Ferguson could have a part to play further forward this season

Perhaps the one substitute to enhance his prospects of featuring against Stockport was the only unused outfield player. Former England C international Ferguson might have lost his battle to start the season at left back, with skipper Sean Newton getting the nod but, as the 24-year-old’s brace for Darlington during last term’s 2-0 opening-day success over eventual champions Salford proved, he is capable of becoming a contender for more advanced duty during 2018/19.

The left-wing role in Gray’s 4-4-2 formation is still very much up for grabs. With Vinnie Steels gone, Alex Kempster and Adriano Moke were regarded as the leading contenders for the position with the former preferred against Chorley.

The ex-Whitley Bay striker’s performance was not always convincing, though, with his ability to defend the flank coming under particular scrutiny. His deliveries when in good areas might have been better too.

With both of those aspects of the game in mind, Ferguson could be a potentially stronger option and, unlike Kempster and Moke, who are more accustomed to playing in central situations, he also offers natural width. The former Blackpool Championship campaigner’s defensive background might give the team better balance in a 4-4-2 as well, rather than Heslop and Penn having to cover the gaps caused by fielding a front four in effect. Ferguson looked fit in pre-season and arguably, as a full back, is more effective going forward than he is when asked to defend and a left-flank partnership with Newton could make the team harder to penetrate on that side of the pitch, while not necessarily compromising the team’s attacking potential.

5 Jake Wright will get his rewards if he keeps working hard

The former Harrogate Town and Sheffield United striker’s tendency to leave a boot in might land him in trouble with the law at some point this season but his niggly aggression and persistence will cause National League North defence problems if he plays with the same determination he showed in the first half at Chorley. His willing forward charges and pace means he wins most 50-50 chases for the ball, along with a good proportion of 40-60 and 30-70 contests and such industry will gain results if he maintains the same attitude and work ethic.