YORK City goalkeeper Scott Flinders is hoping new manager Jackie McNamara can bring the same "steely determination" to Bootham Crescent that he used to win matches as a player.

Flinders shared a dressing room with the ex-Celtic captain and Scotland international when the pair were team-mates in the Scottish Premier League with Falkirk.

The Minstermen net-minder made nine appearances for the Bairns and admitted that he was impressed by McNamara's aura, saying: "I was a young kid on loan from Crystal Palace for six months and, as soon as I walked through the changing room door and saw him and Neil McCann - the two big hitters - I had the ultimate respect for them.

"He's one of the biggest Celtic legends around really and, whilst he was a quiet guy to speak to, he has that steely determination to win football games that everybody talks about. He was vocal in games with his experience of being such a quality player and, if he can bring that philosophy to York City, it can only benefit us.

"He's only worked with us for two days so far and it's been short and intense but enjoyable. Everything has been geared towards playing Accrington and he's just trying to get to know the players ability and character wise at the moment because he only knows me and Lowey (Keith Lowe)."

Among the new manager's early duties has been drilling his team on what to expect from an Accrington team who are playing a more attractive brand of football this term.

"We watched a few clips of them playing Leyton Orient on Thursday and they like to pass the ball a lot, which hasn't always been the case in the past, but we need to be in their faces," Flinders pointed out. "We put on a great show last weekend at Crawley and were absolutely gutted to come away with a 1-0 defeat.

"That's football and the situation we are in. We could have done with a 1-0 to kickstart our season but, with the the Cup, you never know what's going to happen and we want to give the fans something to shout about."

For Flinders that would be achieved if the Minstermen can fight their way to the famous competition's third round when the country's Premier League and Championship outfits enter the draw.

It is something the current Press Player of the Year leader did not manage in six seasons at previous club Hartlepool, culminating in a humiliating 2-1 home exit at the hands of part-time neighbours Blyth Spartans in front of the television cameras during 2014's second round.

"We played two non-League teams at Hartlepool last season with the big one against Blyth, which turned into a bad night for us," Flinders admitted. "We're just concentrating on Accrington first this season but, long-term, for every League One, League Two and non-League side, it's always the target to get to that magical third round because you never know who you will pull out of the hat and it could be a big hitter."

Flinders is also hoping City can build on last weekend's improved defensive display at Crawley, where the home side only snatched maximum points following a dubiously-awarded late penalty.

The Minstermen had conceded an average of exactly two goals a game during a run of nine win-less games going into that Sussex clash but the former Barnsley reserve reasoned that left-back Femi Ilesanmi's switch into the heart of the defence proved an inspire move by then caretaker boss Richard Cresswell.

"We worked a lot on our defensive shape last weekend and I think Femi playing in the middle improved us," Flinders argued. "I didn't realise he could play in a two, but he played really well alongside Lowey and we looked solid and defended well for the majority of the game."