York City wait to learn whether new striker Rhys Murphy will be sidelined for two months due to cracked ribs

On-loan Forest Green forward Murphy was stretchered off after collapsing to the floor holding his side early in the second half during an unlucky 1-0 defeat at Tranmere.

Home striker James Norwood went on to grab a 93rd-minute winner for Micky Mellon’s title-contenders, completing another painful afternoon for the Minstermen, who also set a club record of 35 away games without a win and dropped to the bottom of the National League table.

Commenting on Murphy’s injury, City chief Gary Mills revealed: “It might be cracked ribs. I hope it isn’t, because we know the outcome of that if it is.”

Murphy’s setback came after centre-back Aaran Racine, who has also been drafted in on temporary terms from Forest Green, was ruled out of making his City debut at Prenton Park after contracting the Norovirus with a wry Mills adding: “We signed Aarran at midday and, by 6pm, he was in bed having caught the Norovirus, which meant he was throwing up on his way up to York.

“You couldn’t write the script really but, while these things are testing us, we can’t let them beat us.”

Indeed, despite suffering the repercussions of conceding another costly late goal, Mills was encouraged by his players’ display on the Wirral, suggesting that it was the first time City had looked like a team since his return as manager, if not during the whole season.

“The game lasts 95 minutes and what happened at the end is the difference between being at the top of the table like they are and the bottom, where we find ourselves, but I don’t want to be too harsh on my players, because I thought we were excellent,” Mills reasoned. “I can’t comment on what went on before I came here, or maybe I can talk about the whole season, but since I’ve been here it’s certainly the first time we have looked like a team and it’s taken the signing of a couple of players who know what it’s all about to become that team.

“I thought we had some half-chances to win the game and reduced them to a bit of desperation. The late goal was hard on us but we just needed to stop that cross from coming into our box in the 93rd minute and, then, they don’t score the goal.

“It was also a free header at the far post so somebody didn’t pick him up and it was on Shaun Rooney’s side, in between him and Simon Heslop, but I thought Shaun was excellent, so I can’t be too angry. I was at Southport because that was pathetic and I was at Bromley because we were awful, but this display was like chalk and cheese when you compare them.

“I’m just really, really disappointed instead, because I’m so desperate for the fans to see their team win and I’m working hard to put a team together in November and December, rather than June or July, to make that happen and get us enough points to stay in this league. But, even though this defeat hurts, we’ve got to take a lot from the game because it was a step forward and we’ve got to reproduce that in two weeks’ time during our next league match against Torquay by showing the same drive, desire and ability to do our jobs by being organised.”

Murphy and Jon Parkin, making his first appearance in City colours since leaving Bootham Crescent more than 12 years ago, impressed in attack for the visitors with Mills saying: “They were both doing well.

“Unfortunately, Rhys had to come off and Jon obviously tired during the last ten minutes, but he still used his body cleverly and he was excellent for us. It showed the difference when you can get somebody in who does what he does, because he held the ball up and made things happen.”

Robbie McDaid replaced Murphy just before the hour mark, whilst on-loan Barnsley attacker Jake Charles not only lost his starting place, but failed to make the bench with Mills explaining: “Jake wasn’t good enough against Guiseley the other night.

“He knows that because he’s an honest lad and what I got in this match was what I needed then.”