Challenge Cup draw: York City Knights winner was straight off training ground

York City Knights shocked Championship club Rochdale 26-20 at Bootham Crescent thanks to a match-winning touchdown eight minutes from time.

Having already hailed the fight and togetherness in his side to repel a Hornets comeback, Ford said the try itself was testament to the work the players had done in training, putting in extra practise in a bid to counter the Hornets' defence.

"Rochdale defend differently to how we defend," Ford explained. "They come up with a high line and you can have your lead runner bounce into space where that defender has come from, or you can have kicks in behind, or different ways to attack.

"We practised that all week and it's a testament to the boys' hard work in training. They've come in early to work on those bits of execution and stayed late."

Ford also said he was chuffed for prop Bobby Tyson-Wilson to have got the winner, which was set up by returning veteran playmaker Jonny Presley.

"Jonny's recognised that the outside defenders have come up and been composed to delay the pass knowing he'll probably get hit from the side off the ball," he said. "The lead runner has to react to it as well.

"The communication was good from Jonny and I was really pleased for Bobby to get over. He's done some good things. He was left out at Barrow but he's come back stronger and I'm proud of that."

Ford, meanwhile, was hoping the victory would be rewarded with a plum tie in the fifth-round draw.

Some Super League clubs - the four who got through the Middle Eights Qualifiers last season, namely Leeds, Huddersfield, Salford and Leigh - enter the competition at this stage, along with the fourth-round winners.

"We want to bring someone down here and show rugby league off to the city," he said.

"A Leeds or a Hull KR - one of those would be good, getting lots of people through the gates and really helping the club off the field."