York City's Brad Halliday happy to remain the centre of attention

Halliday, 19, was converted from his right-back role for City’s 2-2 draw at Luton on Tuesday night and played a key role during a promising team performance.

Despite a fierce baptism to life in the middle of the park that included a big boot up the backside from Hatters captain Steve McNulty - an offence punished with a red card - Halliday has insisted he will carry on in the Minstermen’s engine room if required.

He said: “When I first signed for Middlesbrough I started out in midfield but I quickly moved to right-back. I spent the whole of last season in that position and the start of this one, so it has been a while since I played in the centre.

“I found it quite tough and physical. In League Two, a lot of play goes through the middle of the park.

“People are in your faces and quick to close you down. It’s just a battle in there but I thought I coped reasonably well and I’m happy to play wherever the gaffer wants me to, whether that’s in midfield, on the right wing, at right-back or centre-half.

“I’m just happy to be playing games. I’m not too sure what my best position would be - probably right-back - but I enjoy it in the middle of the park.

“At Middlesbrough, I’ve been used to getting the ball down and playing and we did do that on Tuesday as well at times. The team did really well and we deserved more than a point.

“We should have walked away with all three, because it was one of our best performances of the season.”

Halliday was left with stud marks down the back of both his hamstrings following the 85th-minute clash with McNulty and, despite home protests, the Redcar-born utility man believed referee Charles Breakspear’s decision to send the centre-back off was the right one.

“I don’t think their player meant to hurt or injure me but he folowed through and went into the back of me so I agreed with the ref, even though others might disagree,” he reasoned.

Halliday lined up for the Minstermen in a new-look 4-2-3-1 formation after Russ Wilcox dispensed with 4-4-2 and the Boro youngster felt the system switch was successful and improved the team’s potency, following a run of just one goal in the previous six matches.

He added: “It worked really well with Couls (Michael Coulson) in the hole. The gaffer told me just to keep things simple and to try to get the attacking four on the ball as much as possible.

“I thought we always looked a threat attacking-wise and we created a lot of chances.”

Halliday also said having a couple of wise heads in close attendance was of great assistance as he adapted to his new role.

MIDFIELD MATE: City skipper Russell Penn, who helped Brad Halliday settle into his new role in the centre of the park

“Having the experience of Keith (Lowe) behind me and Russ (Penn) alongside me helped massively,” he admitted. “Russ talked me through the game.

“It was all about keeping our shape and discipline and not letting them break us down. We needed to do that, especially towards the end of the game.

“I still thought I had lots of energy then to get involved with attacks and maybe close them down but Russ was telling me I didn’t need to do that and that was important for me to hear.”

Halliday is now hoping to give City’s home supporters something to cheer about after last weekend’s 2-0 dismal defeat to Dagenham left the team still searching for their second win at Bootham Crescent this season.

Ahead of entertaining Tranmere tomorrow, Halliday said: “We’ve got to do what we did on Tuesday night. That means battling and showing the same desire and passion.

“That must come first and then we can look to play, create chances and be clinical when they come our way. We owe the fans a few big performances at home.

“They deserve that because we haven’t been at our best there recently. We had a bad result last Saturday but Tuesday’s performance was very different so we’ve got to take that into the Tranmere match to come away with three points.”