1 3-4-3 presents a strong antidote to 4-4-2

It might have been Mike Bassett’s favoured formation, but Gary Mills has never been a supporter of the system that was, for so long, an old English staple. His team’s current shape, initially experimented with to accommodate a third striker in Vadaine Oliver following his return to the club, does seem to work at its best when confronted with two banks of four.

In the FA Trophy, aside from the opening 45 minutes of the first leg, league leaders Lincoln struggled to break down Mills’ men when the two tactical line-ups faced off and, after an uncertain start by the home team, Braintree’s early threats were snuffed out at the weekend. Four-four-two places a great onus on attacking from wide areas but, with 3-4-3, opposition flank men often have to get past a hard-working City striker, a wing-back and then a member of the back three before they can inflict damage.

With the midfield matched up in numbers, the extra forward when the Minstermen are in possession also unsettles defences with Oliver, Jon Parkin and Amari Morgan-Smith all capable of finding the net. At the other end of the pitch, meanwhile, the defensive triumvirate of Dan Parslow, Hamza Bencherif and Sean Newton have the experience to make their extra man count when contending with two strikers.

So, whereas Mills, formerly a 4-3-3 disciple, might have only intended to experiment with the formation, preferred by Antonio Conte at Chelsea and also dabbled with less successfully under previous City chief Jackie McNamara, it has become an important factor in his team’s efforts to impose themselves more on fixtures.

York Press: 2 Jon Parkin is a bonafide York City cult hero

The rousing standing ovation City’s 11-goal top scorer received when he was substituted will have been a special moment that will live with the 35-year-old veteran forever, despite the many other achievements in his long career. With his own song to the tune of Kumbaya, Parkin enjoys a special bond with the Minstermen supporters that, in recent seasons, has only been enjoyed by a chosen few, whose efforts for the club, personality and originality sets them out as fans' favourites.

Amongst those to have felt a similar connection in recent seasons include Keith Lowe, whose old-fashioned values seemingly typified even by his Christian name and comb over hairstyle, appealed to the Bootham Crescent faithful. Jimmy Sangare was another, whose unorthodox but whole-hearted defending struck a chord with City supporters.

The no-nonsense attitude and everyman appearance of Parkin will always appeal to punters and his goal-scoring feats, especially when he’s belting in 25-yard free kicks, just make him all the more popular.

York Press: 3 When he’s not scoring goals, Parkin is just as adept at setting them up for others

The evergreen talisman not only sits at the top of City’s goal charts this season, but has now displaced season-long leader Aidan Connolly at the summit of the assists’ leaderboard. Parkin’s power presents a conundrum for so many players at National League level, as his physical presence often demands the attention of more than one defender, but also frees up space for his team-mates to exploit.

That was never better evidenced than the hosts’ third goal against Braintree when a triumvirate of home defenders were drawn to Parkin, whose touch then let him down, but, following a ricochet off one of the 6ft 4in forward’s markers, Morgan-Smith was ready to pick up the pieces and finished well from 15 yards. The strike meant Parkin has either scored or teed up 19 goals in the four months since his arrival from Newport.

York Press: 4 Bootham Crescent is playing its part in the battle for survival

City have seen off all five of the last visitors to their much-cherished old ground and the home players are now revelling performing in front of a vocal and supportive band of fans. All the trepidation that seemed to cow the host team when fortunes were less favourable now seems to have been pushed on to visiting sides.

Five consecutive home victories is the best run since the early days of Mills’ first reign at the club six years ago and a record of six league defeats this term on their own soil matches that of promotion hopefuls Dagenham and is only bettered outside the division’s top eight by Sutton with their 3G pitch. Mills believes the atmosphere generated by the club’s supporters is a significant factor in helping push his team over the line and their efforts will be just as crucial during the remaining home fixtures against Bromley, Wrexham and Forest Green.

York Press: 5 Vadaine Oliver cannot be outjumped

The number of aerial contests won by City’s spring-heeled striker in the air bordered on the ridiculous against Braintree. Against defenders who were, by no means, shrinking violets, Oliver repeatedly helped the ball on by leaping a couple of inches higher than his adversaries.

His willingness to contest such battles unnerves back lines and, whereas his apparent malaise seemed to spread through the team during the sorry second half of last season, his appetite for work is contagious now and inspires those around him.