STEVE WATSON admitted York City did not create enough in defeat at Leamington - but it was not the worst game he has seen this season.

First-half goals from Dan Turner and Kelsey Mooney condemned York to a second defeat in four days, and saw them miss out on a chance to climb the table.

Still beset by injuries, Watson tried playing a 3-5-2 in the damaging first half before switching back to a back four in an improved second.

The defeat comes in the wake of a 1-0 FA Cup home loss to lower-league Buxton, which was a nadir for City this term.

"Performance-wise, I don't think it was anywhere like the levels of poor performance this season - it wasn't a Gloucester, it wasn't a Buxton," Watson said.

"Did we go too direct too often? I think we did. Our plan was to mix it up a lot more. Did we do a similar type of thing to what they did? Pretty much - two teams being direct.

"They were gifted a couple of chances. They took them, we didn't, and now we stand here staring at the back of a 2-0 defeat.

"We started well but we didn't get the rub of the green in their box. We didn't deal with the first ball twice, and we didn't deal with the ball down the side.

"Did we create enough clear-cut chances? Probably not. But I'm not standing here thinking we've played brilliantly and lost, but I certainly don't think the scoreline reflected how the game actually went.

"Even at half-time, we weren't necessarily in a hole and we knew that if we got the next goal, we'd grow in confidence. We knew we had two strikers to come off the bench and that goal never came.

"I'm certainly not putting it down to luck but at the moment, we're not taking our chances when other teams are."

After the final whistle, Watson went over to speak to some fans who had made the 140-odd mile journey to Warwickshire.

Following a few minutes' exchange, the manager parted amicably from the York faithful, who in turn applauded Watson.

"They never stopped trying to make some noise," Watson commented.

"Of course, it's a long way on a Tuesday night after a really poor performance on a Saturday.

"I don't want them ever to go away thinking we don't appreciate it. We do. We really do.

"Of course they're going to be unhappy but they were polite, they put their points across, and sometimes you've got to listen.

"We agreed on things and we disagreed on things.

"But I don't want anyone to think we don't appreciate things."