Haynes struck down by injury jinx again as Knights end their Keighley hoodoo

Former Knights favourite Josh Tonks was sent off four minutes before half-time for a late challenge on York new boy Connor Robinson and, although Ford’s troops were pegged back by the 12 men having led 22-0 at the interval, they notched their first win at this “tough place to come” since 2008.

The game was badly marred by James Haynes suffering a suspected broken leg – the latest in the luckless former skipper’s long line of serious injuries.

The result, though, kept York fourth in League One and, while they remain only four points ahead of ninth place with three games left before the Super 8s split, Ford said it was an important “mental boost” to get the spoils.

“It’s great to come here and finally get two points, beating a good, well-coached team with some really experienced pros in there,” said Ford, noting it was a particularly young York side that finished the game.

“I thought we were really good in the first half. We showed character and that backbone we talked about in the week.

“We defended our goal line a number of times and that’s no mean feat against a Keighley side who’ve got some strike, pace and two decent half-backs.

“In glimpses we showed what we’re capable of with the ball and we built what was a match-winning lead.

“Keighley were trying to fluster us with aggressive play, some legal, some not.

“We dropped off a bit (in the second half) and there were some dumb things, but these are young boys and young boys do some daft things. What they have got is a great attitude, the lot of them, and they want to improve.

“Our improvement has been remarkable from game one and we will improve more.”

Ford admitted the Knights’ top-eight place was not yet guaranteed, saying: “We’ve got three games left – three tough games.

“Toronto away will be a real challenge and Hemel at home after coming back from Toronto will be a challenge as well. Workington are also a big, physical side.

“But we want to finish the first stage of the season with momentum to take into the 8s.”

Haynes was stretchered off early in the first half after lengthy on-field treatment.

Ford said: “Everyone at the club, and no doubt everyone in rugby league, has fingers crossed for him. It’s about time he had some luck.”

Veteran winger Tommy Saxton (back) and new loan centre Tuoyo Egodo (hamstring) also departed, leaving York down to one interchange player in the second half and having to reshuffle players out of position.

Said Ford: “It will affect continuity when you have to move people around.

“There were a couple of individual errors as well which made the game a bit fractious.

“We also had opportunities to put the game to bed – Connor Robinson after a wonderful break came up with a real ordinary decision at the end of it (not giving Ed Smith a simple scoring pass). He’s a better player than that and I expect him to make a better decision 99 times out of 100.”

But he added: “It’s a great win. This is a tough place to come and it’s a horrible field.

“It’s a mental boost, knowing we can come to a top club in the competition like this and win, despite not playing particularly well with a number of players missing and picking up injuries during the game.”

The hard-running Tonks was a favourite at York before his autumn switch.

On the second-row’s red card, Ford said: “I didn’t see it, to be honest.

“We know what Josh is about. He’s tenacious and aggressive and plays with his heart on his sleeve, and gives everything he’s got for the cause.

“He will have gone to get Connor for sure but I doubt he would have gone to foul him. I haven’t seen it, though.”

Egodo, signed on loan from Castleford in the week, was withdrawn at half-time.

The centre had made a couple of errors, but Ford said: “It was his first game and it’s going to be tough.

“He did some good things and handled (big Keighley centre) Adam Ryder well. He didn’t get too much opportunity in possession but as he builds relationships we will see more of him.”