5 Things We Learned from York City's 4-1 home defeat to Bristol Rovers

Despite a record of 20 defeats and just five wins during his 31-game reign, McNamara had avoided concerted calls for his dismissal prior to this demoralising final home fixture of a sorry campaign. Now the ‘We Want Jackie Out’ chants have started, though, they will only grow louder should the ex-Dundee United chief fail to, in his own words, “prove people wrong” with his summer recruitment drive.

The former Celtic captain must be certain that he has the appropriate players in mind to mount a successful National League challenge, otherwise he would be better advised to walk away now. Cries rang out for his predecessor Russ Wilcox to be sacked during this season’s 3-0 opening day defeat at Wycombe.

Should the 2016/17 term get off to a similar start, with City supporters have turned on McNamara once, they will not hold back should it become apparent he has assembled a sub-standard squad in a campaign that will, given the parachute payment available, present the club’s best chance of reclaiming their League status.

2 Kenny McEvoy’s cameo suggested he might have been used more in recent months

Bar one minute of action, the former Spurs attacker had been overlooked for the previous six matches, before his goalscoring substitute appearance. Yes, he is a little lightweight and offers minimal defensive protection for the team’s full backs but, despite his blond locks, Danny Galbraith is certainly no Stuart Pearce either and has made zero impression despite featuring prominently in City’s last half-dozen fixtures.

McEvoy’s situation seems to raise questions about what a manager wants from his attacking players. Should an overriding focus be placed on runs towards their own goal, rather than in the opposite direction and is that as crucial anyway in the 4-3-3 formation that has been employed during his absence from the side than it would been if the team were lining up 4-4-2?

The Republic of Ireland under-21 international has pace and a directness that frightens defenders and, even if not starting, he would seem an ideal option from the bench. Before Bristol Rovers, though, the likes of Vadaine Oliver, Derek Riordan and Josh Carson had been enjoying greater on-pitch exposure and centre-back Dave Winfield was even preferred as an attacking alternative at Accrington.

Strangely, since McEvoy and Bradley Fewster terrorised Notts County as orthodox striking partners to inspire a win that helped briefly lift the club out of the relegation zone in mid-February, they have not been used together in that manner again. In fact, McEvoy has only started three more games.

3 City need an energetic force in midfield

The sight of Chris Lines powering forward on the ball from deep positions seemed alien to home fans, as such dynamism, with intent, has been lacking from that department of the pitch for most of the season. Following on from the likes of Accrington’s Matt Crooks and Michael Woods, of Hartlepool, Lines illustrated the value of a player who can push teams back with purposeful surges and an ability to explode into penalty boxes.

4 Bradley Fewster is much more effective in a 4-4-2

Given the modern era’s obsession with lone central strikers, Fewster will need to learn how to master that role and is clearly gaining valuable experience in that process at Bootham Crescent. In the present, though, he is much more dangerous with a partner alongside him to share the burden of being the starting point for attacks. Once Lewis Alessandra fulfilled that duty after the second-half tactical reshuffle, Fewster was freed up to make the run behind Bristol Rovers’ defence that teed up McEvoy’s goal.

5 Bristol Rovers were far better equipped to bounce back from relegation than City are currently

Observers must tread carefully when citing the Pirates as an example of what can be achieved after enduring relegation from the Football League. For one, Darrell Clarke’s men went down with 50 points – 17 more than the Minstermen have collected with one game to go. The fact that Rovers included seven players in Saturday’s squad, who dropped down with the club, also suggests that there were still a core of players to be relied upon when the worst happened two years ago. That simply isn’t the case at Bootham Crescent.