JAMES FORD has backed his York City Knights side to come out refreshed and firing for the biggest week of their season – after personally shouldering the blame for the defeat last time out.

The 18-16 turnaround at Elmpark Way to 12-man Barrow ten days ago saw the Knights slip from third to fourth in the final Kingstone Press League One standings.

That meant missing out on a home tie in this weekend's do-or-die play-off semi-final against Swinton – a game which would have been their long-awaited first at Bootham Crescent.

But while the players were expecting to be hauled in for extra training as punishment over the past week, Ford instead took "full responsibility" for the reverse and lightened the load on his troops, giving them the weekend off and scrapping the usual Friday night session.

He reckoned he had pushed the players too hard prior to the Barrow game, leaving them drained – an error he won't make again.

"When we reviewed the game, I felt it was only fair I took a portion of blame for the defeat," he said.

"Fatigue-monitoring data showed players were more tired than normal. We'd pushed the intensity up in training in readiness for the play-offs but we got the preparation for Barrow wrong.

"When players do something wrong they put their hand up, and I'll put my hand up and take the blame for that one."

Asked to expand on it further, he explained: "When you monitor the quality of sleep, frustrations, soreness, readiness to train etc, you get a fatigue score for each individual and track the average through the week.

"Last time we reported such levels of fatigue was when we played Hemel after three games in a week.

"We had obviously overdone something in the week and that's my responsibility. But we've identified it and rectified it and we're looking forward to seeing the boys perform this week."

Ford added: "We had already said we wanted to increase the intensity at training then pull back just before the play-offs so the players hit their peak.

"The levels were also probably down to playing 20-plus games and getting a bit fatigued that way.

"But that's why conditioning teams monitor fatigue and we've adjusted the schedule because of it. There's no point having that data available if you're going to ignore it.

"Last week we maintained the levels of intensity at training but decreased the volume. Everyone's energy levels seem to be up now and we're looking forward to getting in amongst Swinton at the weekend."

Meanwhile, Anthony Bate's disciplinary hearing was adjourned from yesterday until next Tuesday after Barrow requested time to put together a defence.

Bate was sent off at York but instead of going to the changing rooms went into the terrace at Elmpark Way to confront home supporters.

He has duly been charged with a grade 'E' offence of contrary behaviour, which comes with a suspension of five to eight matches.

Ford reckons he should be hit with the maximum penalty – and has also slammed Barrow boss Paul Crarey's claims that the Knights "lacked grunt".

Crarey had said: "I thought York had a lack of grunt in them. We wanted to show grunt and see how they reacted. We probably crossed the line at times, but it was marginal."

The Knights boss responded: "I'm not 100 per cent sure what he meant and next time I come across Paul I'll try to get clarity on that.

"If he thinks we're a bit soft, then he's incorrect. Anybody who watches us perform knows we physically dominate teams defensively with our contact and aggression – Oldham's coach Scott Naylor said we were the most aggressive team they'd come across this season.

"If he (Crarey) is talking about hitting people around the head and being thuggish, then that's not what we are as we're disciplined. That might be why we're in the play-offs and Barrow aren't.

"I took offence at what he suggested and I hope my players do too."

l Organisers of the relaunched YCK Squad Builder Fund will run a supporters' bus to Sunday's semi-final. It will leave Station Rise in York city centre (outside the Cedar Court Hotel) at 11.45am and costs £10 per person. To book, call the club office on 01904 767404 or 07814 716195 stating your name, contact number and how many seats you want.