YORK City boss Jackie McNamara lamented his team’s lack of firepower during a 0-0 home draw with ten-man Tranmere.

The Minstermen failed to muster a shot on target against their high-flying visitors who had Jeff Hughes sent off on 50 minutes.

It was the second successive match in which McNamara’s men have fired blanks following the 2-0 defeat at Torquay and, delivering his verdict, the City chief said: “There were some good performances in the team but, when they went down to ten men, you want a few goals and, while we put lots of crosses in their box and got in behind them a few times, we didn’t test their keeper enough.

“At times, we looked a bit slow in certain areas and we haven’t been clinical enough in our last two games.”

Winger Kaine Felix, though, drew praise from McNamara again after being given his second start of the season following a couple of bright substitute outings.

“I thought Kaine was terrific,” the ex-Scotland international enthused. “He needs a little bit of work on his final ball, but he’s maturing well and has been excellent in the last three games.”

But the former Dundee United boss also admitted that his team lacked the creative spark of Aidan Connolly, who was ruled out by a hamstring problem.

“We missed Aidan’s cutting edge, especially when the game got stretched,” McNamara pointed out. “I thought he could have opened them up in between their midfield and defence but, hopefully, he’ll be back at the weekend.”

In a feisty contest, City had Jake Wright stretchered off with a leg injury on the hour mark and McNamara was unhappy with the reaction of away boss Gary Brabin.

“Maybe, it was accidental, but it was still a foul and I was disappointed with the shouts from their bench at that point,” the City boss added. “It was clear he was injured, although we don’t know how badly yet.”

Right-back Shaun Rooney, meanwhile, picked up a suspension and a ticking off from his manager following his fifth booking of the season.

“He got involved in something that was nothing to do with him and we’ll have to adapt to that,” McNamara said. “Lanre Oyebanjo is still not ready and it might mean Clovis Kamdjo, Ben Clappison or Josh Robinson playing out of position, because I feel we’ve looked better with a back four.”