DAVE Winfield has been hailed as a “colossus” after securing a vital 1-0 home win for York City against relegation rivals Cheltenham.

The 27-year-old defender scored a 73rd-minute header to move City seven points clear of their bottom-of-the-table visitors and five above the Football League’s relegation trapdoor.

Winfield only returned to the City side a fortnight ago after being recalled from a loan spell at AFC Wimbledon but, since then, he has been the central figure in a back three that has helped the team take seven points from a possible nine.

Prior to last month’s 2-2 draw at Accrington, the 6ft 3in centre-back had not featured during Russ Wilcox’s five-month managerial tenure but, on his recent contributions in the 3-4-1-2 formation, the City chief said: “He has been a colossus since he came back to the club.

“He looks more comfortable in a back three and we’ve got a lot of experience back there. Cheltenham threw bodies forward in the second half but our experience back there helped see the game out.

“The system is working because we’ve picked up seven points out of nine. That doesn’t mean it will work every week but we know we are adaptable and can change things around to give people problems.”

Winfield headed in a corner from Luke Summerfield, who undertook that responsibility due to Josh Carson being unavailable for the game after suffering severe concussion during a Saturday night incident last week that police are now investigating and Wilcox declined to comment on.

Ex-Northern Ireland international Carson had swung in two flag kicks for Keith Lowe and Jake Hyde goals during last weekend’s 4-1 win at Mansfield and Wilcox added: “So many games are won and lost from a set-piece at this level and most levels, so I’m so pleased to score again from a corner. We were missing Josh’s deliveries against Cheltenham but Luke Summerfield put it right on to Dave’s head.”

With Michael Coulson also hitting the post and Zubar having further chances disallowed and cleared off the line, Wilcox’s side were worthy winners with the City manager reasoning: “There were a few nervous moments at the end but, over the 90 minutes, we deserved the win because the lads were really brave on the ball and moved it around the pitch well to create opportunities.

“It was a massive team effort for everybody including the fans, who played a huge part. They knew how important this game was and have been terrific all season.

“We’ve not had enough home wins or picked up enough points here but they’ve stuck with us and they backed us right to the death against Cheltenham.”

Wilcox, once more, cited the example of Bristol Rovers, however, to guard against complacency.

The Pirates were six points clear of the bottom two with half-a-dozen matches left last term before being relegated “They probably thought they were safe at this stage, so we’ve got to keep our foot on the gas,” the Bootham Crescent boss pointed out.

Coulson filled in for the absent Carson against Cheltenham in the left-wing back role – an attacking move that Wilcox defended, saying: “It was a gamble but we were at home and I thought we had to take the game to them.”

Fit-again centre-back Zubar, meanwhile, entered the action as a half-time replacement for McCombe and, on that decision, Wilcox explained: “I was a bit concerned about their pace down that side.

“I thought their left back was excellent and he caused us lots of problems. It was another brave decision which you have to make as manager.

“John wasn’t too pleased but it’s all about the group not individuals and the bottom line is we won the game.”

Goalkeeper Jason Mooney also returned to the City bench having been recalled from his loan spell at Alfreton to prevent the hosts from being short of a keeper on their bench due to Bobby Olejnik’s one-match suspension.

Before the game, Wilcox had declared publically that he would not be naming a goalkeeper on his bench but revealed it was an act of subterfuge to throw Cheltenham off the scent, saying: “I’ll hold my hands up.

“That was always on the cards but I didn’t want to tell the opposition what we were doing with the game being so important.”