Gary Mills confident York can finish the job (From York Press)
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Gary Mills confident York City can finish the job at Mansfield Town
11:59am Thursday 3rd May 2012 in News
Matty Blair picks the ball out of the Mansfield net after the Stags’ own goal
YORK City manager Gary Mills is confident his team can progress to the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off final after last night’s 1-1 home draw with Mansfield.
The Minstermen will travel to Field Mill for Monday’s semi-final second leg with honours even after Exodus Geohgahon’s first-half own goal cancelled out Ross Dyer’s 26th-minute header for the Stags.
Mansfield will also be without banned 30-goal top scorer Matt Green for the crucial clash after he was sent off 74 minutes into last night’s match for two bookable offences – both for late challenges on goalkeeper Michael Ingham.
Despite their numerical advantage, City could not find a goal that would have given them a lead to take to Nottinghamshire but Mills is in optimistic mood as he ponders his team’s second leg fortunes as long as Geohaghan’s long-throw threat is nullified.
Mansfield’s goal last night came from a long haul into the box by the Stags’ 6ft 5in defender and Mills said afterwards: “It’s 1-1 at half-time with all to play for and the lads did well last night.
“All our fans have seen what Mansfield are now.
“They get the ball forward early and try to win the second balls and also bombard you with long throws, which we did not deal with well for their first goal.
“You have to deal with these things and, if we do, we will end up winning Monday’s game. If we are patient and compete with them, I think we will go through.
“I want us to go there and play how we play and I know that will be enough to win the tie. It would have been nice to get our noses in front but our away form is good so we will go there with confidence.”
The Minstermen set a club record by losing just three of their 23 league games on the road during the regulation season – at Tamworth, Gateshead and Newport – as well as drawing at Mansfield.
Mills does not think the prolific Green’s suspension, however, will make City’s task any easier or harder during the return leg.
The City boss added: “I’m not bothered about that one bit.
“I don’t think it gives us an advantage the fact that he will be suspended because I thought we dealt with him well last night and I didn’t feel he was really in the game anyway.
“I’m just going there concentrating on us.”
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