ASSISTANT manager Micky Cummins has hailed the versatility loanee Adam Buxton gives to York City.

The 27-year-old Buxton has joined the Minstermen from Morecambe until the end of the season and made his first start in Saturday's 3-1 win at Alfreton Town.

Buxton was played in a defensive midfield role - sat in front of the back three which features former Tranmere Rovers team-mate and fellow double promotion winner Steve McNulty - but can also be deployed in the backline.

And it was his presence in the side, Cummins revealed, that gave him and manager Steve Watson the confidence to travel to Derbyshire without an extra defender on the bench.

Instead, York were able to name four midfielders - Sam Jones, Adriano Moke, Andy Bond and Paddy McLaughlin - and striker Macaulay Langstaff.

Asked if a central midfield role is where the City management pair see Buxton playing, Cummins said: "At the minute, yeah, but we didn't go with a defender on the bench because we knew we had the option of Bucko slotting in at centre-half, sweeper or right side.

"He gives us another dimension of having another attacking player on the bench.

"He was good, he communicated well with the lads around him and was vocal at half-time, like Macca is.

"They're experienced and will hopefully rub off on the others.

"He was controlled, quite calm, particularly in the first half," Cummins added of Buxton's performance.

"He kept things ticking over and he switched the play nicely.

"Out of possession, his position is really good. He protects the back three and gives Kempy and Greeny the opportunity to go forward.

"He's good on the ball, he senses danger and he uses the ball really well. I think in the last 15, 20 you could see he was blown a bit. We were contemplating taking him off but we thought it would do him good to get the fitness in his legs."

Two Sean Newton free kicks and an Alex Kempster finish gave York their first win in three games. The previous Saturday, Curzon Ashton held City to a 1-1 draw and a Hereford came away from Bootham Crescent with a 4-1 win, after which the club reported two players were threatened outside the ground.

Cummins was pleased with the fans' reception on Saturday - and says they are "probably due a decent home performance" from title-chasing City, who host Altrincham at the weekend.

"I think things on the pitch, off the pitch weren't very helpful," he said.

"The lads take things personally, and you do. They're out there doing their best and, understandably, they're going to have bad days but they'd like not to have that sort of response.

"I think they've responded really well and the fans were excellent, they were in fine voice, cheering from the start.

"More of that on Saturday, hopefully."

He added: "It's about putting a consistent run in now.

"Performances sometimes aren't the be all and end all, it's getting the scruffy one-nillers or the hard-fought wins.

"At times it was hard-fought but going home next week against an Altrincham team that plays some decent football, hopefully they'll give us a game and won't sit in like teams have in the past.

"We're hoping for a good response from the fans, they're probably due a decent home performance."