YORK City interim manager Michael Morton has explained his team selection, after enjoying a 3-0 victory over play-off chasers Bromley.

Morton opted to drop striker Shaq Forde to the bench, replacing him with midfielder Paddy McLaughlin in a change of formation.  

It was a decision that proved correct, as York exceeded expectations and secured three points over a Bromley side who were unbeaten in 2023. 

"We've got to manage the legs as well. Shaq's 18-years-old and he's still looking after his hamstring, so that's a factor as well." Explained Morton. 

But looking at them playing against Notts County they dominated the ball quite a lot in the in the midfield, against a good side, so we wanted to make sure that they come through us and go around us and we had a good balance.

"In terms of energy and experience it was just picking and choosing when we come out.

"But we also knew on the transition that we had the space in the ten, we didn't do it enough in the first half in terms of finding the ten.

"Second-half you could see that they were a man down, but you could see them passes were still on.

"So that that was part of the strategy in terms of our possession to be more compact but to then go straight down the middle of them.  

"Looking back, [John] Askey played Ducky [Michael Duckworth] at the side of a back three. 

"I remember one of the games and he was really composed and them two [Duckworth and Ryan Fallowfield] have got a good relationship as well.

"If you look at the two different players, Ducky's really calm and collective and Fallows is all energy and he wants to go forward so I think it’s a really good balance between them two. 

Maziar Kouhyar wasn't involved in the squad after struggling with a tooth infection.

"He was feeling it yesterday and then when he got up this morning he's had a big swollen face, so I just need to get him back up north and get them checked.

"Hopefully we'll assess him tomorrow and he's got some antibiotics to calm it down."

York are out of league action this weekend for the quarter-finals of the Isuzu FA Trophy against Altrincham, causing Morton to face a selection headache.

"That’s the choice of being a manager. But there will be one or two changes just to come in.

"I think even when we have made the changes, players have come in and have been performing.

"I know we haven't got the results the last couple of games, but they’ve been coming in and there is no doubt that any player that comes in on Saturday that we will be expecting that same thing.

"As long they work hard and they give everything we'll collectively be happy. The fans will be happy. Anybody who comes in we will trust them. 

"We can go and enjoy the game. There should be a good crowd against a really good side.

"We know that they like to play good football and entertain, whenever we play at home we try to get on the front foot.

"I think if we can take the performances from the last couple of games and take it home it should be a cracking game."