YORK City boss Russ Wilcox told fans to send any flak his way and not in the direction of the board following a 1-0 home defeat to Bury.

The loss leaves fourth-bottom City only outside the Sky Bet League Two relegation zone on goal difference but Wilcox has appealed for togetherness after fans remonstrated with chairman Jason McGill at the final whistle.

Some were calling for the head of Wilcox, who was brought to the helm following Nigel Worhington’s resignation in October.

Afterwards, the ex-Scunthorpe chief said: “I can understand the fans’ frustration, but I’d say it’s not helpful in the situation we are in – that’s for certain.

"We’ve not had enough home wins or scored enough goals this season and we can’t change that but everybody needs to get behind the club and stick together.

“It’s totally wrong if anybody is venting their anger at the board. They have done an incredible job since taking over the club.

“Any anger should be directed at me. I pick the team and the tactics, so have a go at me because I have broad shoulders.”

City lost to a ninth-minute Tom Soares goal and, while Wilcox was disappointed by his team’s attacking quality, he argued that their commitment levels could not be faulted, adding: “I was very pleased with the performance but I feel like I am saying the same things because we lacked the quality you need to score goals.

“They scored with their only shot on target and it was one-way traffic during the second half when Bobby (Olejnik) was a virtual spectator but our play in the final third wasn’t good enough. The lads are giving everything for the football club and, rightly so, the fans are getting behind them, but we need more quality.

“We’ve not been scoring enough goals all season and we’ve not quite found the solution to that, especially at home, which is a huge concern.”

City also lost Michael Coulson and Stephane Zubar to injury in the second half with Wilcox explaining: “Michael has had a problem with his abductor muscle and it was just a bit too sore for him to carry on. Stephane has done something to his thigh and we’re hoping it’s a knock rather than a strain.

“They are two key players for us, so it’s a bad day at the office all round.”