Underfire York City boss Jackie McNamara insists he will be judged at end of season

A 1-0 home defeat to Dover led to a chorus of boos at the final whistle and saw some sections of City’s supporters call for McNamara to resign and others heckle chairman Jason McGill with demands for the ex-Scotland international to be sacked.

McGill was not available after the game to comment on McNamara’s position, but the City chief believes his job will be defined by the team’s final league position.

City currently lie 17th in the table – eight points off the play-off pace and two above the relegation zone – with McNamara admitting: “I understand people’s reactions.

“I’ve got to take responsibility and, if we’re not in the top five at the end of the season, I will carry the can for that.”

The Minstermen have lost five matches this term, but also enjoyed thumping victories over Woking (4-1) and Solihull (4-0), with McNamara reasoning that he has seen nothing to fear with the season almost a quarter underway.

“We’ve played a few decent teams that have started well like Tranmere and Forest Green and it’s not as if we’ve looked at any team and thought they are ahead of us or that we’re worried about them,” McNamara explained. “I’m always more concerned about ourselves, than the opposition if the players do things properly and handle the expectations at the club after being a League side last season.

“Some players who have come up from the lower leagues are not used to that, but, if you want a good career, dealing with that is what defines you and, to be honest, the fans make our home ground a good environment to play in. They encourage us and want to see us trying and being positive.”

McNamara confessed, though, that the display against Dover saw a number of below-par performances.

“There were too many players off their game and we were carrying too many, while some were suffering from a lack of confidence,” he pointed out. “We were relying heavily on certain individuals like Simon Heslop, who played a real captain’s role, trying to drive others forward.”

The City manager went on to complain that poor decisions from officials, as well as his team’s lack of a cutting edge, contributed to defeat.

“I thought we should have had a free kick on Matt Fry leading up to their goal and we could have had a penalty when Aidan Connolly was pushed as he tried to head the ball,” McNamara lamented. “Little things like that are important and can decide the whole game.

“We also had good chances when Kaine Felix and Daniel Nti went clear through, but didn’t take them. We need to be clinical, like their lad was with his chance.”

Ricky Miller scored the only goal of the game on 20 minutes and also gave makeshift right-back Ben Clappison a troubled afternoon with the suspended Shaun Rooney and injured Lanre Oyebanjo both missing.

On Clappison’s difficult 90 minutes, the Minstermen chief added: “In fairness, he was up against their most dangerous player and I thought he was excellent for them.

“He moved around the pitch, caused us problems and took his goal well. It was a tough one for Ben, but he will learn from it.”

Connolly, meanwhile, returned from his hamstring injury, but McNamara confessed that he might have rushed the ex-Dundee United midfielder back too soon after replacing him just past the hour mark.

“Aidan wasn’t quite right and, in hindsight, maybe shouldn’t have started after missing a week’s training,” McNamara reasoned.