‘We never say die’ declares York City's Parslow (From York Press)

‘We never say die’ declares York City's Dan Parslow

12:00pm Tuesday 11th September 2012 in Sport By Dave Flett, Sports reporter

York City's Dan Parslow

YORK City stalwart Dan Parslow has admitted the club’s class of 2012/13 never know they are beaten.

Jason Walker ’s spectacular stoppage-time equaliser that earned a 2-2 draw at home to Chesterfield on Saturday means the Minstermen have now lost just once in their last 16 competitive fixtures.

It also suggested that City, who won seven points last season with goals scored in the 90th minute and onwards, are carrying that trend into the new campaign.

After playing his part in another late comeback, Parslow, a mainstay at Bootham Crescent since 2006, said: “We never know we are beaten.

“I thought we were a bit unfortunate to go in 2-1 down at the break on Saturday and we deserved the equaliser in the end and what a finish it was from Jase. We battled away and that could prove an important point come the end of the season.”

Parslow, who turns 27 today, also hailed the team’s striking options this term with one of Walker, Michael Coulson, Ashley Chambers or Matty Blair having been on the scoresheet in all seven of City’s games so far this season.

He added: “We have a great strikeforce. They are all sharing the goals around and that shows how well the team are playing.”

Parslow, himself, has also weighed in with a goal this season from a midfield role that he confessed he is now beginning to feel comfortable in.

Such have been the quality of Parslow’s performance in the anchor position that he can no longer be solely regarded as a defender by trade and the former Wales under-21 international said: “I’ve had a good little run in there now and I enjoy it.

“I look forward to playing there these days. I feel settled in the position and that I’m slowly getting to grips with it more as each game passes. It’s becoming par for the course.”

Parslow has become the epitomé of City’s squad versatility but pointed out that he is not the only utility man at Bootham Crescent.

Fellow defender Lanre Oyebanjo has also operated in the middle of the park previously, while attacker Matty Blair was selected to line up alongside Parslow and Jonathan Smith in City’s engine-room for the first half against the Spireites.

“With Paddy (McLaughlin) being away with Northern Ireland, Blairy sat in front of us and I thought he looked lively,” Parslow said.

“He kept swapping with Coulo because Blairy’s more familiar with being a wide man and Coulo is tidy and that’s the great thing about the system we play.

“There’s so much flexibility to stick players in different positions to do a job.

“The gaffer knows what he wants from the system and he’s not afraid to put so-called defenders in midfield or so-called wide men and strikers in there as well.

“We have shown all over the pitch that we have versatile players and that comes in handy some times.”

When manager Gary Mills opted to switch to a 4-4-2 formation, Parslow also remained unflustered by his first taste of operating as a conventional two-man central midfield.

He said: “I normally play as the deep-lying midfielder as part of a three so playing as a two was new to me but it was just a matter of grasping it.

“I played in there with Smithy and I thought we ratted away well and gave the ball to the boys who can go and win us games. I’m quite happy to do that and long may it continue.”