THE applause for Scott Lindsey was muted as opposed to rousing as he briefly turned - a touch sheepishly - to clap York City’s supporters following his introduction as the club’s new head coach ahead of kick-off.

By the final whistle, the noise was a fair bit worse.

The expectation ahead of Minstermen’s first home game as a Football League club for 3,747 days - or ten years, three months and four days if you prefer - had been rather conspicuous by its absence with many fans still clearly digesting the bombshell decision to get rid of the individual who presided over their return to the big time in Stuart Maynard.

There were no songs to herald Lindsey, quite the opposite in fact with home supporters singing his predecessors' name on numerous occasions in the final half hour. York didn’t play that badly either, but no win..

York City head coach Scott Lindsey, pictured in his time in charge at Crawley Town. City started their season at home to Lindsey's former club in the preliminary round of the EFL Cup on Monday evening. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

placeholder image — York City head coach Scott Lindsey, pictured in his time in charge at Crawley Town. City started their season at home to Lindsey's former club in the preliminary round of the EFL Cup on Monday evening. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

Lindsey had got the treatment on one occasion in the first period. This time, it came from the smattering of Crawley followers, who had made the long trip up from West Sussex at the start of the working week.

‘Sacked in the morning’ was the brazen ditty aimed in the direction of Lindsey - axed by his former club just 133 days earlier - shortly after their side’s opener from Gianmarco Di Biase.

York's second-half efforts, when those in red and blue gave it a good go, saw more positive appreciation from home punters. But Lindsey will have certainly to wait to hear his name sung with the ballads reserved for Maynard.

A hearty chant of 'Stuart Maynard's Barmy Army' rang out from the South Stand and soon after, a chorus of 'Stand up if you love Maynard' and 'We want Maynard back' arrived before a 'Sacked in the morning' rendition, this time from York punters who were increasingly making their feelings known. Boos arrived at the final whistle as York bowed out of this particular competition, the EFL Cup.

Penny for the thoughts of Lindsey. Ahead of their League Two start, all is not well at promoted York, with the natives restless. It's an unhappy landscape at present.

York actually posted their best first-half spell ahead of the Crawley breakthrough.

But over the course of the half, the visitors were that bit cuter and sharper in their attacking work.

Alfie McNally, Zech Medley and Jack Hunt were handed debuts, while Dipo Akinyemi lined up for his second debut. Three other new arrivals in Arthur Read, Mark Shelton and Charlie McArthur were named on the bench.

York's newest arrival in the shape of Barnsley-raised Harry Boyes, who has joined from Southend United, was paraded ahead of kick-off and given a generous ovation. Louder than Lindsey received in truth, although it’s early days.

Given the Minstermen’s issues down their left-hand side in the first half, his arrival could well be a timely one.

Crawley made hay in that respect, with York opened up on a few occasions, more especially with their 24th-minute concession.

The hosts were caught cold by a tidy Crawley counter, with Kellan Gordon teeing up Di Biase for a tap-in at the far post, a chance he couldn’t miss after an incisive move.

It could have been worse soon after, with McNally doing well to deny the lively Malcolm Ebiowei - strongly linked with Hull City a few years back - when a second goal could well have deflated home punters, who had provided a brief flurry of noise ahead of Crawley’s goal, which quietened them somewhat.

Akinyemi grafted hard up top for York. But their main source of goals last season in Ollie Pearce was stationed on the left and you sensed Crawley’s defence would have been pleased about that.

The Minstermen did get into some decent positions, particularly on the right. Their final ball was left a bit to be desired, that said.

Their best moment came ahead of Crawley’s goal with Medley nodding wide.

Attacking the South Stand on the resumption, York then should have given their supporters something to sink their teeth into.

Akinyemi found himself free in the box following Ben Brookes free-kick, only to plant his downward header straight at Crawley’s veteran keeper Vito Mannone, 38 - once of Hull several moons ago - instead of either side of him.

York had Crawley on the back foot more in the second period and the set-piece route again went perilously close to securing an equaliser with Medley crashing an effort against the woodwork after being left unmarked following Alex Hunt’s curling centre from the right.

Sensing something, the South Stand engaged fully in the second half. On the balance of play, York merited a crack at penalties. Pearce missed a golden chance from Morgan Williams’ knock-down. The backing was for Maynard, not Lindsey.

To rub salt into wounds, substitute Danioli Orsi added a late second from the spot after Zach Johnson was penalised for a foul on Louie Watson. Again Lindsey was not spared as Crawley followers reminded him of the score.

York City: McNally; Williams, Johnson, Medley, J Hunt (Felix 67), A Hunt, Banks, Brookes (Newby 57); Grey, Pearce, Akinyemi (Olley 77). Substitutes unused: Sykes-Kenworthy, Fallowfield, Read, Shelton, Farrar, MacArthur.

Crawley Town: Mannone; Gordon (Russell 53), Barker, Farquharson (Arganese-McDermott 82), Adeyemo; Watson, Arthurs, Krasniqi (Williams 66); Ediowei (Kamara 53), Di Biase (Orsi 54), Duke-McKenna. Substitutes unused: Izquierdo, Aderoju, Odimayo, Tinsdale.

Referee: T Parsons Attendance: 4,788 (192 Crawley supporters).