‘We don’t want to get into a fight with them, we want to play football...’ - McLaughlin (From York Press)

‘We don’t want to get into a fight with them, we want to play football...’ - McLaughlin

10:31am Monday 7th May 2012 in News By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter

MIDFIELDER Paddy McLaughlin believes staying out of a scrap will be the key to York City getting past Mansfield Town.

The 21-year-old reckons the Minstermen must stick to their principles – and move the ball around – in order to get through this afternoon’s Blue Square Bet Premier play-off semi-final second leg at Field Mill (kick off 2pm).

“We are not going to fear anything,” he said.

“We have played them now three times this season and we know what they are all about. We don’t fear anyone in the league and we certainly don’t fear them now.

“Our away form has been great this season and I don’t see why we can’t go there and turn them over.

“We need more of the same (from Wednesday). Be brave, get the ball down and pass it – play our game, really. We don’t want to get dragged down into what they do. We want to get the ball on the floor, move it about and do what we are best at. We don’t want to get into a fight with them, we want to play football.

“That’s when you have got to be composed, go and get the ball and want the ball. Let the ball do the work. Eventually, you know you will tire them out by keeping the ball moving.”

McLaughlin, who has netted 13 times this season, enjoyed the 1-1 first-leg draw at Bootham Crescent – arguing City were unlucky not to have gained the upper hand with their performance.

And he has reiterated the views of his manager Gary Mills, and several of his team-mates, all of whom are confident of booking a play-off final date at Wembley on May 20.

“I enjoyed it,” McLaughlin said of the first leg. “It was a big occasion and the crowd were great. I don’t know if it was a full house but it was certainly close to it. Both sets of supporters were really vocal throughout the match and it made for a great occasion.

“I thought we played some good stuff. You know what you are going to come up against with them and how they play. We knew if we got the ball down on the floor and used the surface to our advantage that would suit us better. I thought we did that in large parts of the game. We played some good stuff and created a few half chances. We were unlucky not to come out of the game with more. All the lads are confident. We do believe we can go there and turn them over.”