Mark Yates taking positives from a hard fought game at Bootham Crescent.
Robins manager Mark Yates speaking to the media following this afternoon's 0-0 draw at York:"I actually enjoyed the last half an hour. We battled and scrapped in awful conditions. You have to dig in sometimes and we've shown we can do that but the last half an hour we were able to play with a bit of enjoyment and freedom. We counter-attacked and broke well and we could have even nicked it. Scotty (Brown) has made one save from the freekick in the first half and one save from the freekick in the second half but we haven't really tested their keeper enough. We did have a couple of good passages of play and that's something to look at for the next couple of weeks.
"It wasn't free flowing football, far from it but the conditions didn't help. Sometimes you just have to do what it is necessary and it's a good point. We would have liked three but there were some positives to take from the end. We tried to be brave to start with and go with the diamond with Jermaine (McGlashan) running off the strikers but conditions were awful and we couldn't quite get going. The second half we were against the wind so we had to play football and get the ball down on the floor and play. There were a lot of balls into our box that we had to defend but we got what we got.
"I thought Michael Ihiekwe at right back was excellent and he got better and better as the game went on. I thought Stevey (Elliott) again got better as the game went on. I can think of numerous times when I've said that we should have won after a game but we have been conceding sloppy goals like the one last weekend against Northampton. It was pleasing to come away to a tough place with a couple of ex-players fired up and wanting to beat us but we stood firm and showed what we are trying to be about.
"No-one is undroppable and Sido (Jombati) hasn't been having the best of times. I'm trying to search for answers and formulas for us to win games so it was time to take him out of the team.
"You know what? I could find a replacement (for Kemar Roofe) but maybe it is time to give a few of the boys on the bench a chance. Terry Gornell has been waiting patiently and I thought he was excellent for the half an hour that he came on today. We've got Zack Kotwica and Joe Hanks and there's very little between everyone at the minute so maybe we will have a look at one or two things. Sam (Deering) was unlucky not to have started but I just wanted Jermaine's thurst and he was a real threat in the second half once we got into better areas. We're still searching for a best team and one that will win us games.
"We just haven't been as good as we would have wanted to be this season and even now I haven't quite got to the bottom of it to be fair. We will keep trying and take each game as it comes. We have got a tough one now and a local derby. The supporters were great today standing in that uncovered terrace behind the goal. The applause they gave the players at the end of the game showed their appreciation and they understood the hard work and effort the players put in. It's a long trip so well done to them for coming and getting behind the boys."
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