Five Things We Learned from York City's 1-0 home defeat to North Ferriby

No modern-day dressing room is complete without a motivational sporting cliché, but some carry more weight than others. While few are suggesting this season’s crop of City players ooze quality, North Ferriby’s modest stature and budget does determine that the players at former Gainsborough Trinity boss Steve Housham’s disposal are, by his own admission, inferior in pedigree to those Gary Mills is selecting from. But the visitors’ superior work-rate negated that supposed class gulf, as a ponderous City lacked the tempo to impose their passing game on the hard-working part-timers, who swarmed in numbers, forced mistakes and won almost every second ball. As an unhappy Mills stressed at the final whistle, it was a standard of performance, whose depths must not be plumbed again, as the Minstermen face opposition teams who are likely to be stronger in all of the club’s remaining 19 fixtures.

2 York City need more midfield thrust at home

The Minstermen want to play with the ball in front of them, but were pegged back for long periods in the first half by Ferriby’s energetic pressing game. Adriano Moke tried the odd forward surge, but his natural instinct, these days, seems to be check back and preserve possession, rather than take the game to the opposition.

Simon Lappin is also a natural sitter, while Danny Holmes has only offered reliable support for the team’s attackers during the 3-1 FA Trophy victory over Worcester. The narrow three-man midfield might be more effective on the road, but Aidan Connolly’s anticipated return to fitness could be timely as City search for a natural link between midfield and attack in the current 3-5-2 formation.

3 The wing-backs needed more energy

Alex Whittle’s half-time introduction, coupled with Callum Rzonca’s arrival soon afterwards, gave the side more spark in wide areas. In the first half, Simon Heslop and Sean Newton had been a bit laboured and one-paced in their forward forays, causing Ferriby few problems, as both sets of wing-backs cancelled each other out in a defensive stalemate.

4 Chances need to start hitting the back of the net

A blank scoresheet means City have now netted just twice in their last six league games, despite having 65 shots in that time, compared to the opposition’s 49. Thirty-eight of those opportunities have come in the last three fixtures – against Ferriby twice and eighth-bottom Torquay – with defender Aarran Racine’s header in Humberside the only effort to find the target in that time.

Rhys Murphy has missed glaring chances to earn the Minstermen three more points in those matches and such profligacy is damaging in the club’s current predicament.

5 An opportunity was missed to lure back disenchanted supporters

Mills suggested that an 853 uplift in the number of home fans from the previous Bootham Crescent game against Torquay could be explained by an improvement in form. It is more likely that the reason for the increase was the traditional hike in attendance for festive fixtures, which is rarely experienced in such relative terms at other clubs.

There were 2,968 City fans for this match, with the home gates (minus away supporters) having not exceeded the 2,300-mark all season. But, whatever their motivation for coming through the turnstiles, Mills will, no doubt, be proven correct in his assertion that few will be returning for the next Bootham Crescent clash against Barrow on January 21.