YORK City enjoyed nearly all of the ball but none of the goals on Tuesday night as they sunk to a 3-0 defeat to ruthless Bradford Park Avenue.

Adam Nowakowski, Dylan Mottley-Henry and Nicky Clee netted at the LNER Community Stadium as the visitors punished a toothless and frustrated York.

Here are five things we learnt.

1. City lack cutting edge

Bradford came with a clear instruction to limit City’s space around the penalty area and to break when the opportunity presented itself - and credit to them, the former they did with discipline, and the latter they did with lethal efficiency.

But was all a bit too easy for them as York - despite their crushing possession statistics - failed time and again to stretch the visitors’ defence. Balls into the area did not find their target, if they beat the first man to begin with, and their incursions through the middle into the Bradford box were brief and rare.

City will need some better ideas if they are to make themselves credible challengers again.

2. Askey will keep working to sharpen the cutting edge

Since coming in as interim boss in November, John Askey has made no secret of his plans to remould City’s squad, and he has given glimpses into his vision.

He brought in lively wingers Remy Longdon and Jack McKay early on and rued a lack of chances created in a superb 1-0 win over Alfreton Town, suggesting entertainment and goalscoring are top of his wishlist.

Askey admitted after Bradford that he has been thwarted in various efforts to bring players in but remains in the hunt and will be hoping some drop soon.

3. Creative players must deliver more

Longdon and McKay both had excellent debuts (against Matlock Town and Alfreton, respectively) but have struggled to make an impact on the last couple of games. Longdon managed a couple of through balls and to cut inside on Tuesday night, while the fairly anonymous McKay was brought off just after the hour.

4. Gateshead could be a good game to follow up with

Top of the table, top scorers in the division, and dominant winners against City last time out, the Heed's visit on Saturday (3pm) could be the ideal fixture to kick City back into action.

By no means is it a no-pressure situation - one glance at the table confirms that - but it might do York good to be the underdogs again.

Perhaps a touch of complacency crept in against Bradford, who not so long ago were looking at a relegation battle. There will be no room to think “if we keep the ball long enough, we will score” against Gateshead.

5. The table looks less rosy

A few weeks ago, City were within touching distance of the top seven. Indeed, after the Alfreton win, they had crept into the play-off spots.

Now, York sit 14th on 26 points with a seven-point gap to seventh-placed Boston United to make up while Leamington (25 points), Chester (24), Bradford (24) and Blyth Spartans (24) breathe down their neck. Leamington and Blyth face each other at the weekend, while Chester are at Boston and Bradford visit basement side AFC Telford United.

A relegation scrap is far-fetched but the Minstermen are going to have to change their fortunes very soon if they are to stand a chance of promotion.