JOSH CARSON has insisted Russ Wilcox is the right man to steer York City clear of trouble.

The 21-year-old winger believes City’s players need to take responsibility for the club dropping into the relegation zone with Wilcox having only been at the helm for four months.

Carson also revealed that the squad were left reeling by former boss Nigel Worthington’s decision to resign just two months into the campaign.

Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to fellow strugglers Dagenham & Redbridge saw Wilcox come under fire from irate sections of the Bootham Crescent crowd.

On that reaction, Carson reasoned: “He picks the team but we are the ones who perform. You see managers at the top level getting abuse all the time but it’s up to us, as players, at the end of the day.

“He’s definitely the right man for the job. He came in during a tough period after Nigel walked, which wasn’t good for team morale either.

“It’s quite hard to take - having a manager step down - but we took it on the chin and the gaffer has come in and done what he had to do. We’ve played better football and created a lot more chances.

“Unfortunately, we’ve not been putting the ball in the net but the manager has got to be given time. He’s only been here four months.

“That’s not a long time to be in charge of a club and he’s trying to help us progress by doing the right things.”

City’s players were heckled too at the weekend and, while pointing out that such reactions can be counter-productive, Carson admitted he understood the supporters’ emotions.

“We didn’t play well from start to finish,” he confessed. “It was a difficult game to play in, especially when the fans were getting on our back, but that’s football and the supporters have a right to do that when you’re not performing on the pitch.

“I don’t blame them but we are trying to give our all and we will keep plugging away and, hopefully, get there in the end.”

City find themselves in a similar position to when Carson first joined on loan in March 2013.

The Minstermen were embroiled in a relegation battle back then but subsequently pulled clear of danger and Carson insists this squad is better equipped to follow suit.

He said: “When you look around the changing room now, there are players with vast experience who have come through this kind of thing before. I feel we are stronger in that respect than when I came here two years ago and I have got complete confidence in the squad to get us out of this rut.”

Carson reckons, meanwhile, that there is a collective responsibility on everyone at the club to start getting on the scoresheet following a run of one goal in six matches.

York Press:

REELING: Josh Carson with former York City manager Nigel Worthington

He has only netted once, himself, in 13 outings this term and the ex-Northern Ireland international added: “We should have had nine points against Plymouth, Burton and Southend last month but couldn’t get the goals and that’s not just down to the front men.

“The midfield and defence have got to contribute too. Lowey (Keith Lowe) has popped up with a few and we scored three at Carlisle, so we’ve got to get back to performing like that again.”

Ballymena-born Carson is determined to provide ammunition for the team from wide positions too, saying: “I got four or five crosses in on Saturday with quite good quality, so I hope I can add to that. I am confident on both feet so don’t mind putting the balls in from the left or right either.”

Rather than being daunted by a hostile, big-match atmosphere under the lights at Luton’s Kenilworth Road ground tonight, Carson is also relishing the fixture, if selected.

“You look forward to matches like this and we’ve got to be confident going into the game,” he said.