YORK City boss Russ Wilcox declared a 3-0 victory at Carlisle as “the full package” having seen his improving team move up to 18th in the Sky Bet League Two standings.

The Minstermen racked up their first back-to-back wins of the campaign after goals from Josh Carson, Luke Summerfield and Michael Coulson at Brunton Park.

It represented a great Christmas for Wilcox and his players following their 1-0 home triumph against Accrington on Boxing Day.

Wilcox suggested the display was a strong contender for the best since he came to the helm at Bootham Crescent in mid-October, whilst also paying tribute to the 592 fans who made the festive trip to Cumbria.

The City chief said: “It was an outstanding performance and nearly as good as that of our fans, who played a huge role again by coming out in their droves to support us. They were rewarded with a display that was full of quality, endeavour and desire – the full package really.

“We scored three outstanding goals and could have had more, but we also defended magnificently. We dealt with all their long throws and balls into our box, which we had talked about and it was probably the best performance since I have been at the club.

“Morecambe away also stands out but we didn’t end up with the result we deserved there. We answered every question that was asked of us in this game and every player was immense.”

But Wilcox is insisting that his side must not allow themselves to be simply satisfied with a mini revival, laying down the gauntlet for continued progress when Plymouth visit North Yorkshire on Saturday.

He added: “We looked a good side (at Carlisle) and have moved up to 18th, which is another small step. It’s been a great Christmas weekend to get two clean sheets, four goals, six points and such outstanding support.

“I am glad I gave the players Christmas Day off now because they have repaid me for that reward in bucket loads, but we won’t be getting carried away and start talking about silly things. We’ve just got to move on to Plymouth at home next because we haven’t achieved anything yet.

“They are as good a team as I have seen in this division but, if we play like we did against Carlisle, we will give them a good game. We’ve got our first back-to-back wins of the season now but I’ve already set the next challenge – can we take nine points out of nine?”

Carson opened the scoring on 44 minutes after receiving a late call-up to the side when Diego De Girolamo withdrew during the pre-match warm-up.

On that swap, Wilcox revealed: “Diego had a stitch in his left foot from Friday’s match and he was touch and go. He thought he would be fine but it didn’t feel right in the warm-up so Josh came in and was outstanding.

“The first goal is always a key one and he got it for us.”

Carson lined up on the left wing in a 4-4-2 formation – the same system Wilcox had decided to start with prior to De Girolamo dropping out despite kicking off the last two games with a 4-2-3-1 line-up.

Explaining his tactical shape, the City manager reasoned: “I was always going to go that way because I thought the second-half performance against Accrington, when we changed to 4-4-2, warranted playing that. There’s a way I want to play long-term but I was pleased with how we mixed up our game and I thought the front two linked up well.”

The other change to City’s first XI saw Marvin McCoy replace suspended Middlesbrough teenager Brad Halliday, who was beginning a three-match ban, at right back and Wilcox felt the Antigua and Barbuda international staked his claim for a permanent recall well.

“Marvin was outstanding and I told him I was delighted with him,” Wilcox said. “It was a test of character having come out of the team and seeing Brad do really well but sometimes an opportunity can come along in unexpected circumstances and he’s got to build on that performance now because I want a good fight between them two and Marvin’s put down a good marker.”

Wilcox was also delighted that 81st-minute marksman Coulson completed every minute of his side’s two games in three days following recent discomfort in a knee that has suffered past cruciate ligament damage.

“Michael has come through the games fine and he told me it’s the best he’s felt after the match,” the Minstermen boss added. “You sometimes look to make changes and freshen things up but, after a win, you normally want to put the same team out and he looked like a young boy out there.”