HEAD coach James Ford hailed the togetherness and desire in his York City Knights squad after they ended their hectic week by hammering Kingstone Press League One leaders Rochdale.

The Hornets arrived at Bootham Crescent with an unbeaten league record after nine rounds, their only defeat to League One opposition so far having come against Ford's men in the iPro Sport Cup two months ago.

But two touchdowns each for Austin Buchanan and Josh Tonks led the Knights to another comprehensive victory, this one by 40-12, which lifted them to third in the table, two points behind Rochdale with a game in hand. Toulouse, meanwhile, took over top spot on points-difference after beating Doncaster on Saturday.

It all came at the end of a week which began with the agonising late iPro Cup final loss to Keighley and included a Wednesday night match against Coventry.

Ford said of his players' renewed efforts: "I thought the team performance was outstanding in terms of attitude, energy and desire.

"Every time these boys go out they do everything I ask of them and more.

"We spoke about our togetherness and desire, and the boys went out there - God knows how they find it.

"Jack Aldous did three massive stints, Ross Divorty, Josh Tonks - how good is he? - Ed Smith. The boys are so close and I do believe that gets us through some sticky patches.

"Jack never takes shortcuts, never a backward step, very rarely is he second best, and a lot of players are very similar - Josh, Harry Carter, Ed, a lot of them."

Some spectators rated this performance the best all season, if not for several years. Asked his opinion, Ford said: "Defensively we were really good. Energy-wise and commitment-wise that was maybe the best they've served up for me.

"With the ball we could've done a few things better.

"Rochdale had a plan to stop us - I don't always acknowledge that - but we had enough desire and energy to make sure we were comfortable winners.

"I've really got a lot of respect for Rochdale. They do some cookie things with the ball and they did a decent job in handling our shifts.

"We felt if we could get them in the corners we could limit their yardage, but they knew what we wanted to do and made a real good effort to stop us so we had to tweak one or two things."

The Knights' defence wasn't breached until past the hour mark when the game was already virtually won.

Ford said: "My middle blokes every week turn up and give their all. Defensively on the edges we were really good as well.

"Matty Dale's not quite at full fitness. He was supposed to play two ten-minute stints but did about 40 or 50 minutes as we lost Tommy Saxton to a hamstring strain. That typifies the character of the boys. They're a pleasure to work with."

On the improvement from Wednesday's routine win against an expansion club, Ford said: "Parts of the performance that night were really good, and some parts weren't.

"I saw a team that was very close to being back on form. That was the message we gave them - they were very close and we just needed to tweak one or two areas.

"Even though we get one or two things wrong, the boys are so together and have so much desire we will be there or thereabouts."

Ford also hailed the noise from the Main Stand, having asked the supporters in the build-up to the match to get behind his team.

That call came after he read comments on social media questioning their progress.

"Some people intimated our season was over after the cup final," he explained. "I've never read such rubbish in my life.

"But the supporters were absolutely fantastic. They deserve the man-of-the-match award as much as anyone.

"Don't underestimate how important that loud backing is and how it helps people like Jack Aldous and Russ Spiers find that extra bit of effort."

On the importance of the victory and whether it lays down a marker, he added: "It's two league points and we need to back it up, performance-wise, against Hunslet next week."