Accrington Stanley v York: Minstermen must sharpen up in attack and quickly

The Minstermen are one of three clubs near the foot of League Two on 37 points, four ahead of bottom club Hartlepool.

It means York, who have won just twice in 13 games, are in grave danger of relegation ahead of today’s trip to Accrington.

Wilcox said: “It is a nine-game mini-season and we are only out of the bottom two on goal difference. We have to start winning matches, simple as that. To do that we have to take our chances.

“Defensively, we have looked solid and only conceded three times in five matches. But we have to sort it out at the other end.

“We have to do that quickly, too. We are at the wrong end of the division and running out of games.”

One positive for York ahead of the run-in is their record against fellow strugglers. In 10 games against clubs currently residing in the bottom eight, York have lost just once and won six.

With Cheltenham and Hartlepool still to visit Bootham Crescent and Wilcox’s men taking on Accrington today, such a record does, at least, offer hope.

“We have done well against the teams around us,” said Wilcox. “We beat Accrington, we beat Cheltenham. I was disappointed last Saturday not to beat Carlisle but we have taken four points off them.

“It is going to be like that all the way through – highs and lows. Look at Hartlepool. A week ago, they looked out of it, but two wins and, suddenly, they are back involved.

“It has been a disappointing week. We should have won the Carlisle game, having a couple of chances cleared off the line. Then we started too slowly against Bury.

“One point from two home games is a disappointment.”