NEW boss Jackie McNamara was left to lament another “silly” and “poor” defensive display as York City were knocked out of the FA Cup at Accrington Stanley.

The Minstermen lost the first round tie 3-2 with Sean McConville and Matt Crooks capitalising on slack play from the visitors’ back four in the first half either side of Vadaine Oliver’s equaliser.

A calamitous Femi Ilesanmi mistake then gifted Josh Windass the chance to add a third from the penalty spot three minutes into the second period, meaning Michael Coulson’s stoppage-time header mattered for little.

Having watched his new charges contribute to their own downfall at the Crown Ground, McNamara said: “We conceded some very silly and poor goals through basic errors again.

“They were very similar to the ones I’ve seen on this season’s match footage and we’ve got to eliminate them from our game. They got in behind us too easily from flick-ons and, in the first half, Scott (Flinders) had to make a couple of saves to keep us in it.

“We then shot ourselves in the foot again with the silly penalty that we gave away and that gave us a lot to do. I can understand why the team hasn’t won for ten league games and there’s a lot to work to do with the back four being first and foremost.

“Defensively, we’re playing as individuals and we’ve got to sort that out quickly to give ourselves a chance of winning games.”

Keith Lowe paid for the team’s sloppy first-half display when he made way for Dave Winfield at the break with McNamara wanting his side to compete better aerially.

Explaining the substitution, the ex-Dundee United chief added: “We were too open through the right channel and that’s why I decided to change things at half-time. I didn’t feel we were winning headers, so I put Dave (Winfield) on to do that because, every time the ball was going up there, they were winning it.

“Femi kept us in the game a couple of times with his pace but that shouldn’t be the case. You’ve got to do the ugly side of football and Dave did that to an extent.”

Having impressed McNamara at centre-back during the opening 45 minutes, the City boss also felt Ilesnami lost his way a little after the interval, suggesting: “He did very well in the first half but maybe he lost a bit of concentration after that mistake.

“You have to stay focussed when that happens but, at least, these things are very preventable because it comes down to concentration, awareness and the back four working together.”

McNamara was encouraged, meanwhile, by his team’s performance further up the pitch, where Oliver and Coulson netted for the sixth and fourth time respectively this term.

“From the middle to the front, we look a threat and we do things quickly and properly,” he reasoned. “We have pace and power and scored two goals away from home.

“Vadaine also thought his late header was over the line, so that could have been another. The captain Michael Coulson was excellent too and I though Rhys Turner did well when he came on, getting in behind them a couple of times.”

With James Berrett serving a one-match ban and Luke Summerfield and Russell Penn still sidelined by injury, McNamara opted to recall Ben Godfrey in midfield, where he operated alongside fellow teenager Bryn Morris in front of anchorman Michael Collins.

Morris set up Oliver for his goal and, on the pair’s contribution, McNamara declared: “The two youngsters did well. It was a big ask in a game like this, but they handled the occasion very well.”

Striker Jake Hyde also made a surprise return as a second-half replacement having missed most of the season following a double hernia operation.

On his condition, McNamara admitted: “He’s still not 100 per cent and we’ve got to be careful with him but he played a half against Leeds in a behind-closed doors game last week and, from what I’ve seen of him in training, he looks like he could be a good player for us.” City’s next test is in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday night when they travel to a Barnsley team who have lost their last six games following their 1-0 FA Cup exit at the hands of non-League Altrincham.

When asked whether it might be an opportune time to face the Tykes, McNamara countered: “Barnsley might be saying the same things about us with no league wins in ten, but it’s important we give ourselves the best opportunity by putting our bodies on the line defensively.”