1 Slow starts are costing City dear on their travels

Jackie McNamara rightly indentified his players’ struggle to begin matches with the same energy and purpose as they do at home as a factor behind the club’s miserable run of 27 games without an away win. Aside from Forest Green, the Minstermen have handed the initiative to their hosts in their four other road trips this term.

Nathan Blissett’s quickfire brace means City have now conceded five times in the opening half-hour of games away from Bootham Crescent this term. At home, meanwhile, only two first-half goals have been shipped in eight contests.

York Press: 2 If your goalkeeper wants to punch rather than catch, you must line up for set-pieces accordingly

Plainmoor witnessed City concede for a third time this season following their own net-minder’s punched clearance with Kyle Letheren punished in the same manner as Scott Flinders before him. Each goal has resulted from the ball subsequently falling to an opposition player six yards outside the penalty box.

This cannot be allowed to happen again and one simple remedy would be stationing somebody next to the rival attackers who are profiting fully from this oversight.

York Press: 3 The team is overly reliant on Richard Brodie’s firepower

Such has been the ferocious accuracy of Brodie’s shooting that it was a genuine shock when his 15th-minute howitzer crashed back into play off a post rather than finding the net. His name on the scoresheet in the previous five matches had heightened that sense of expectancy.

But it cannot be taken for granted that Brodie will conjure up something special every time his team needs to get back into a game. For one, he is going to be missing through suspension along the way, with his daft caution following the final whistle taking his season’s tally up to four already.

Others like Scott Fenwick need to step up to the plate, but he flattered to deceive after being given a start at Torquay.

York Press: 4 City need to prey on their opposition’s vulnerabilities more ruthlessly

Despite an impressive start from the hosts, right-back Aman Verma looked a glaring weak link in the Gulls team. A midfielder, recently converted to the defensive role at the age of 29, he took unnecessary risks and would have struggled had City attacked with pace down his flank.

Unfortunately, the left-wing raids Alex Whittle has made from deep this season were non-existent, while Verma was spared facing an out-and-out winger until Justin Johnson was introduced on 83 minutes.

York Press: 5 Kaine Felix can bring an added attacking dimension to York City’s play

Forward drives down the right flank have been minimal this term without the former Boston winger, who has only made one start, in the side. With Aidan Connolly causing most of his damage from a more central roving role, Felix offered a different angle of attack after his second-half introduction.