YORK CITY may look to produce more of the counter-attacking football that stunned Premier League opponents Newcastle United on Wednesday night during the upcoming League Two season – even at Bootham Crescent.

The Magpies were undone 2-1 by a Minstermen outfit that sat deeper in defence and looked to break quickly, a ploy which caused Steve McClaren's men a number of problems and brought trialist Reece Thompson's goal.

Buoyed by that performance, after the poor display in defeat against Harrogate Town, manager Russ Wilcox revealed the make-up of his emerging side might suit a style that looks to pounce rather than squeezing high up the pitch.

"It's easy to say now but the Harrogate game was probably a blessing in disguise," explained the York boss of his side's 2-0 defeat at Wetherby Road last weekend.

"It has refocused the players, me and my staff to get back to what we did last season – with the two holding midfield players, the one in front, which was Michael Coulson last year, and two strikers at the top end of the pitch.

"We have had to fit round pegs in square holes in the last few games with Josh Carson playing off and that is different. Josh is not a striker. We are limited. We have got the lads still out injured and that's the idea with trying to bring the extra striker in.

"Everything worked well against Newcastle. We had to weather storms of possession, which we expected, but I think defensively our shape was good and we got bodies on the line. We made a lot of blocks. We made the first contact when coming out of our box."

Wilcox continued: "It is something we have worked on and spoken about – having a deeper pressing line. I was speaking to the lads and saying at Scunthorpe it was 4-4-2, it was in their face and pressing high up the pitch. This is a different group and a different club.

"I have to be adaptable as a manager. I can't roll out the same and expect the same. Maybe we are going to be a team that sits off teams a little bit more and presses from a little bit deeper because we have got a back three there who are more comfortable sitting deep.

"They are more comfortable with balls in the box and making first contact than squeezing high up the pitch and leaving space in behind. Hopefully, the fans can be patient with that because that's maybe the way we have to go this season.

"I have to put a formula together that wins us games. I will be judged on results. I know that and maybe that is the way forward for us – sitting that bit deeper and playing on the counter-attack – even at home. The game has changed a lot and teams do that. When we do that, we look effective."

Wilcox admitted his team are once again the side expected to win when York go to Halifax Town on Saturday (kick off 3pm).

And while not expecting the kind of hangover suffered at Harrogate after their decent display against Sheffield Wednesday, he is expecting a tough game against the National League outfit.

Wilcox said: "It is again roles reversed. Newcastle was a simple game for us. Psychologically, it was Newcastle coming to town, let's go and enjoy it and let's work hard and make sure we are nice and solid with a good base to work from. After Wednesday, maybe that's the way we can go forward.

"I watched Halifax on Tuesday night against Oldham. Oldham were outstanding in the first half and were 2-0 up but Halifax came out in the second half all guns blazing and it finished a tight affair. They lost 2-1.

"They showed signs to me that they are a good outfit. I think it is a really good game to have in the lead-up to Wycombe."