YORK City manager Gary Mills lamented a “desperate” end to his side’s first defeat in ten games last night.

The Minstermen went down 2-1 at home to play-off rivals Gateshead with substitute Jamie Reed’s 65th-minute goal failing to spark another comeback after Micky Cummins’ brace had put the visitors in the ascendancy.

Mills also added that his team cannot expect to continue recovering points from losing positions.

The City chief said: “I thought we were the better side in the first half despite going into the break 1-0 down but, in the end, it was a disappointing game on a big night.

“We got a quick goal following the substitutions but we looked a bit desperate for the last 20 minutes when we tried to get another one and that concerns me.

“We were playing like it was injury time after we scored and sometimes you have to be more patient and slow things down. Having said that, we can’t keep going behind and expect to come back.

“We did it on Saturday and did it against Darlington and Mansfield but you can’t do that all the time.

“Our performances have got to be better individually and as a team.

“We switched off for their first goal and should have stopped the cross into the box for the second.

“Two or three players are not playing to the level and standard that they have set themselves and they’ve got to get back to that.

“We know that we are capable of beating anybody in this division but we haven’t played how I want my teams to play of late despite picking up results.

“If we want to get where I want to be, then we have got to do better but one result is not the end of the world and we have stayed where we are in the league.”