YORK City boss Gary Mills is predicting a “weird season” after his team’s fourth win in five games still left them relying on goal difference to keep out of the relegation zone.

The Minstermen jumped up a place to seventh-bottom following a 2-1 win at Solihull Moors, leapfrogging their hosts who now hover just one point above the National League trapdoor.

But Mills’ team remain level on 48 points with the Midlanders, as well as Woking and Braintree, who won their respective home games against Macclesfield (1-0) and Guisley (2-0).

It led the City boss to reason that this campaign could prove an anomaly with the safety mark likely to exceed the 50-point target normally quoted.

Assessing the situation, Mills admitted: “We still know we’ve got a lot of work to do and, hopefully, we can go and get another result on Monday at home to Wrexham now. It just shows how far we were behind that we’re still not out of it and, not so long ago, people were writing us off but, if we are coming in saying ‘they’ve won again’, imagine how the others are feeling when they keep seeing our result and what I like most about beating Soilhull is we’ve gone above another team.

“They’ve been dragged into it, as have Guiseley, who possibly thought they were OK three weeks ago. People always talk about you needing 50 points and somebody told me recently that 51 would be enough, but I don’t know. It’s probably going to be a weird season.”

Mills also confessed that he had a few more grey hairs and a racing pulse after the nervy win.

City were firmly in the ascendancy at Damson Park thanks to Vadaine Oliver’s brace within the opening 31 minutes, but Harry White pulled a goal back in first-half stoppage time and the visitors were clinging on for most of the second period, as on-loan keeper Scott Loach made three excellent saves.

Summarising the contest, the Bootham Crescent chief added: “The first 45 minutes was the best we’ve played. We created chances and got two good goals from Vadaine with the first one a real poachers’ effort after he followed up a great free kick from Jon (Parkin), but everybody knows I never like 2-0 leads.

“Goals change games and their free kick lifted them. The second half wasn’t pretty and Scott had to made a couple of unbelievable saves.

“Dan Parslow also got to a far-post header in the 95th minute, which is what he does, so I’m going greyer and my heart’s pounding, but that’s part and parcel of being a manager.”

Aside from Oliver’s double-strike, Mills also praised the former Crewe striker’s work ethic, pointing out: “Quality always shines through but so many talented players have drifted out of the game and, forget Vadaine’s goals, how you win games is when he chases back to stop a cross like he did.”

City will now give a late fitness test to Danny Holmes before the Easter Monday home clash with Wrexham after he suffered a badly-gashed thigh, meaning he had to be replaced by Shaun Rooney early in the second half at Solihull, where Mills also paid tribute to a strong away following.

“I know I’m repeating myself but the fans have been so good and special to this team,” he enthused.