LUKE Summerfield believes York City must target a better first-half showing at home to Stevenage this weekend.

On second-half performances alone, the Minstermen would have taken six points from a possible 12 during their last four fixtures and be sitting outside the Sky Bet League Two relegation zone.

Instead, due to goals conceded before the break, only two points have been collected and Jackie McNamara's strugglers remain rooted to the bottom of the Football League.

Jason Kennedy opened the scoring for Carlisle 15 minutes into the Minstermen's latest fixture on Saturday, before Summerfield grabbed a late equaliser to earn the visitors a share of the spoils.

But the 28-year-old midfielder has stressed the importance of the team starting as they mean to finish, explaining: "We've not been beginning games as well as we should be doing and have got to address our first-half performances.

"We were not penetrating enough at Carlisle and conceded another goal, which was a downer."

Summerfield added, though, that he was pleased with the final outcome in Cumbria.

He reasoned: "The way results have been going recently, it was a massive positive to get a point away from home and definitely one gained, rather than two lost.

"We were always in the game but, after they missed the chance to go 2-0 up, getting a goal late on felt a bit sweet for us.

"We could have played a lot better but we can build on that performance in the next game."

Summerfield also suggested the team performed better when the diamond formation, which saw him operating in a more advanced position, was dispensed with following the second-half introductions of Danny Galbraith, Kenny McEvoy and Bradley Fewster.

On the different systems, he said: "I didn't get on the ball as much as I would have liked, especially in the first half, but I'll do anything for the team and I enjoy going forward a lot more and creating as much as I can.

"The formation changed when the subs came on and they had a massive impact. It worked for us because they got us on the front foot."

While Summerfield grabbed his fourth goal of the campaign, he felt some sympathy for Galbraith, who teed up the chance with a spectacular 25-yard strike that rattled the post.

"I'm gutted for Danny because it would have been one of the best goals I've ever seen – but I love playing against Carlisle," pointed out Summerfield.

"I think it's the only place I ever score with my left foot and, luckily, I was in the right place at the right time."

The former Shrewsbury playmaker, who failed to beat the drop from League One with the Shropshire side two seasons ago, also remains confident City can stave off the threat of relegation to the National League.

Summerfield insisted: "We all believe we can do it – 100 per cent. We've got talent through the squad, including a lot of the people left at home on Saturday, who could easily play in the team."