York City 0, Rochdale 0

John McGrath belatedly warmed Josh Lillis’ hands for the Minstermen during the game’s last throes while, at the other end, goalkeeper Michael Ingham was also only called into action once following a first-half Jack O’Connell mistake.

The result meant the Minstermen extended their run without a victory to a 13th match but new boss Nigel Worthington at least picked up his first point during his second game in charge.

Worthington made one change to the side that started Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at AFC Wimbledon with Jason Walker recalled in place of Paddy McLaughlin.

Top scorer Walker partnered Michael Rankine in attack as the hosts also switched to a 4-4-2 formation.

Jamal Fyfield and Walker combined tidily to create the first chance of the night for Matty Blair, whose 15-yard attempt was deflected wide.

Otherwise, though, City were generally more direct in their attacking approach than under Worthington’s predecessor Gary Mills.

Walker almost profited from the change in philosophy on 16 minutes when Ingham’s long punt forward was helped on by Rankine.

But the £60,000 striker volleyed well over as the ball bounced invitingly up off the turf 15 yards from goal.

At the other end, on-loan teenage Blackburn centre-back O’Connell survived a huge scare on 18 minutes when his woefully under-hit back pass, following an up-and-under out of defence by Rhys Bennett, gifted George Donnelly a clear run on goal.

But the Rochdale striker shot tamely at Ingham to spare the England Under-19 international’s blushes.

Ian Henderson then headed wide for the visitors following Bennett’s right-wing cross to the far post.

A diagonal run from Ashley Chambers on 29 minutes teed up Blair in the left channel but he scuffed a poor shot wide.

Shortly afterwards, Walker booted an eight-yard effort out of the stadium after Blair had raided down the left and pulled the ball back from the byline. The game became even scrappier after the interval with neither team managing a single shot prior to the 84th minute.

Alex Rodman, following his 72nd-minute replacement of Chambers, almost got on the end of a Walker cross to the far post within seconds of his introduction.

Twelve minutes later, captain Chris Smith then lifted the first second-half effort of any description over from 12 yards.

Almost immediately, Bobby Grant tried his luck with a long-distance drive that flew wide of Ingham’s goal before McGrath’s 30-yard pot shot was tipped over the crossbarby Lillis.

Parkin plunder crushes Stanley

THE gap stayed the same at the foot of the npower Championship with York City again lodged in 19th place still four points from the bottom rung.

However, the lowliest position is now occupied by Accrington Stanley, who switched places with Plymouth after the Lancashire club were crushed 3-0 by Fleetwood for whom former City man Jon Parkin bagged a hat-trick.

Plymouth, meanwhile, gained a home point in a goalless draw against Capital One Cup beaten finalists Bradford City.

The biggest movers were AFC Wimbledon.

Hard on the heels of toppling City 3-2 on Saturday, they won 3-1 at Southend to leapfrog the Minstermen.

Barnet’s single-goal loss at Oxford United dropped Edgar David’s men back into the bottom four.

York City 0, Rochdale 0

York City: Michael Ingham 7, Dan Parslow 7, Chris Smith 8, Jack O’Connell 6, Jamal Fyfield 8, Ashley Chambers 5, Scott Kerr 6, John McGrath 7, Matty Blair 5, Jason Walker 5, Michael Rankine 5.

Substitutes: Alex Rodman (for Chambers 72), Jamie Reed (for Walker 84).

Not used: Arron Jameson, Lee Bullock, Michael Potts, Chris Doig, Paddy McLaughlin.

Star man: Jamal Fyfield – nullified Rochdale’s supply from the right completely.

Rochdale: Josh Lillis, Phil Edwards, Rhys Bennett, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Kevin McIntyre, Andrew Tutte, George Donnelly, Joe Thompson (Steve Collis 83), Jason Kennedy, Ian Henderson (Ashley Grimes 65), Bobby Grant.

Subs not used: Joe Rafferty, Peter Cavanagh, Brian Barry-Murphy, Ashley Grimes, Michael Rose.

Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire).

Referee rating: 7/10.

Booked: Blair 68.

Sent off: None.

Attendance: 2,929 (217 Dale fans).

Shots on target: City 1, Dale 1.

Shots off target: City 5, Dale 3.

Corners: City 3, Dale 4.

Fouls conceded: City 11, Dale 14.

Offsides: City 3, Dale 1.