YORK City assistant manager Neil Cox has backed defender Tyler Cordner to maintain his recent improvement in form, after scoring a stoppage-time winner at Needham Market on Tuesday night.

Cordner’s strike has booked York’s place in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup, with a trip to Chester on the agenda.

Cox was pleased with Cordner’s recent improvement which has received recognition from supporters, and credits the centre-back’s recent influx of form on his hard work in training.

“We all know that Tyler can play, we’ve only had two weeks working and have been working more defensively with him.

“We know he can step into midfield and that he can make a pass, we just need to have the runs beyond him, with the forward runs and the midfielders making the angles to get the ball off of him.

“In the last three games he’s stepped in and has done what we have wanted him to do, it doesn’t matter who it’s against as he’s done it right.

“It’s not just about two games, we need a full season out of people.”

“We’re getting there and are seeing these little glimpses, we’re seeing glimpses from one or two players that are really shining, Tyler has really shined these last few games.

“The players need to take a little bit more responsibility, but two clean sheets is a good start for us.”

Cox also credited Cordner’s recent enthusiasm on the training pitch, and hopes his confidence can grow with each improved performance.

“We’ve done work with him, we all know Tyler can step out and pass it.

“He’s got two great feet and can manage a game, he has to work on his defensive side of things and be a marker a little bit more.

“His confidence coming out is probably because of the help he’s had in recent weeks on the training pitch, we’ve had a little bit of time for him to learn.

“If there’s anything we know about Tyler is that he does want to learn and that he wants to get better.”