NEAL ARDLEY admitted that York City didn't deserve three points in their 1-1 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge. 

Ryan Fallowfield's 43rd minute strike cancelled out Jake Hessenthaler's earlier opener, with York again struggling to create chances in a stale draw at the LNER Community Stadium.

Ardley was frustrated to concede in the manner which City did, but was pleased with the response his side produced to Dipo Akinyemi's injury in the 41st minute.

“I don’t think we did enough to win it, that’s the truth," Ardley confessed.

"We had a bad setback, someone’s lost their marker and we’re 1-0 down, we’re usually quite good at that because we do a lot of work on set plays so that was disappointing.

"We got caught on the counter-attack and they could have nicked a second so that could have been tough.

"I thought that to be 1-0 down at home after what happened on Tuesday, and for Dipo to have to come off which is a big threat for us, I thought that we responded quite well from that point.

"I tried to make us on the front foot, territorially we were the better team but again there’s that element of anxiety on the ball and wanting to do really well for the club, which is good.

"But it was a little bit jittery at times and I’ve just that if Will Smith has an opportunity to step on and brave, I don’t ever tell them not to do that, we try and be positive and you saw that with Danny Amos’ cross from one side and Ryan Fallowfield in the box from the other.

"We’re trying to get more people on the scoresheet and more people into those positions, but we’ve got to have that bit of quality really.

“All three performances have been dogged and hard-working, it’s just that final quality.

“Going back to when I arrived, we had the worst defensive record in the league, we weren’t fit, we were miles off of it but I don’t think we’re that anymore.

"We do lack a little bit of quality but we have the pressure for that last third of the season and sometimes the anxiety can kick in."

The York manager also responded to more full-time boos from the City supporters, who have witnessed just three victories at the LNER Community Stadium all season, with the Minstermen holding the second-worst home record in the Vanarama National League.

“There’s a desperation to do well but the start of the season has set us back, it took me two months to try and get something going but we have drawn too many games.

"Our home form has not been good enough and I get all of that, I get the fans frustrations that they turn up here at home and they’ve watched a team with three home wins all season.

"That's hard for them but from my point of view I have to keep being positive."

The City boss also provided an update on Akinyemi, who suffered a back injury after landing in an awkward position in the first-half, with Ardley hoping his talisman can be available for Oldham Athletic's visit to North Yorkshire on Tuesday night (7.45pm).

“He jumped and landed and felt his back, and then he started to get pins and needles all down his legs.

"Obviously the first thing the physio and doctor are thinking is about his spine, and they said that if he’s getting pins and needles shooting up and down his legs then we really need to look at this.

"I’m hoping that it stops, that they’ll have a look at him and it will be all good and that he’ll be back in training for Monday."