Martin Foyle urges banned York City midfielder Levi Mackin to ‘grow up’ (From York Press)

Martin Foyle urges banned York City midfielder Levi Mackin to ‘grow up’

10:40am Monday 15th March 2010 in

By Dave Flett » Sports reporter

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SUSPENDED midfielder Levi Mackin has been told to “grow up” by annoyed York City manager Martin Foyle.

Mackin picked up his tenth booking of the season during Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Altrincham after shoving Chris Denham to the ground. The yellow card means Mackin will now be banned for tomorrow night’s trip to Mansfield and Saturday’s home match against another fellow play-off contender in AFC Wimbledon.

It will mean Mackin will now join injured midfield trio Alex Lawless (hamstring), Neil Barrett (hamstring) and Chris Carruthers (ankle) on the sidelines. Top scorer Richard Brodie was also cautioned for a 12th time at Moss Lane, moving him to within three bookings of a three-match suspension.

Foyle said: “Levi Mackin’s last four or five bookings have been silly and Saturday’s was as well. I wasn’t going to play him (at Altrincham) because I wanted to make sure he would be available for Mansfield and Wimbledon, but the decision he made has cost us and we need to grow up very quickly.”

Former Scunthorpe midfielder Paul Harsley, signed on loan from Chesterfield, is now poised to make his full debut at Field Mill tomorrow after replacing Mackin during Saturday’s second half.

Harsley played under Foyle when the City chief was in charge of Port Vale and, at 31, will be the eldest member of the Bootham Crescent playing staff other than 40-year-old goalkeeper coach Simon Miotto.

Having plied his trade in the Football League throughout a 14-year career, Foyle is hoping Harsley’s experience will prove beneficial to the squad.

He said: “During the last three or four games, we have needed more people wanting the ball and expressing themselves and he got right among the action as soon as he came on at Altrincham even though the tempo was high.

“He will settle us down and get us playing football, while bringing others into the game.”

The Minstermen managed 18 goal attempts compared to the hosts’ four, with Foyle adding: “We didn’t get the three points we thoroughly deserved after playing some excellent football in the second half having defended well against a strong wind in the first.

“We created enough chances to win a game, as we did against Salisbury and Forest Green, but couldn’t get the ball in the net although their ’keeper made a fantastic save from Richard Brodie.

“Michael Ingham didn’t even get his gloves dirty and there were a lot of good things to take from the performance, but we are under pressure now to get something from the Mansfield and Wimbledon matches.”

Foyle fielded two out-and-out wingers in Adam Smith and Courtney Pitt against the Robins, but admitted he would be reluctant to follow suit at Bootham Crescent due to damaged turf on the flanks.

About Saturday’s tactics, the Minstermen boss, who made four changes to his starting line up, said: “The pitch was very good and I’m trying to find a winning formula. That’s my job and that’s why we keep chopping and changing.

“I want to play with wingers, but you can’t do that at our place.”

Foyle also expressed his gratitude for the away support in Cheshire, saying: “I’d like to say a big thank you to our supporters, who were excellent and clapped the lads off.”

Comments(19)

Phantom1974 says...
10:46am Mon 15 Mar 10

The headline of this article is misleading as it presents these comments like Foyle is making a stinging attack on Mackin as an individual when, in fact, he says "we" need to grow up - the whole squad. Password: "Over-Grow"!