York City: 'The game is on steroids now with reactions.... you can't be doing it'

York and Rochdale are in arguably the most exciting title race in English football, Dale on 95 points after 40 games and the Minstermen three behind, knowing their goal difference can hold sway if they win at Spotland on the final day.

Only one automatically goes into the Football League. Last season York were second with 96 points and missed out in the play-offs.

So when either team drops points, social media can be even more toxic than normal. York lost at Gateshead on Tuesday, before Rochdale drew at Scunthorpe United 24 hours later.

“The game is on steroids now with reactions – Twitter, social media – everyone will need to calm down,” says York first-team coach Elphick.

With avoiding it near-impossible, he has been pleased with how the squad has responded so far.

“I went for a walk,” said Elphick of his Wednesday night. “I didn't want to know anything about it (Rochdale's game) until the final whistle.

“I had a little message at half-time (to say Rochdale were 1-0 up), which I wasn't too happy about, but the message at full-time was happiness.

“It's crazy, all these ups and downs, and we're still in the same position as the start of the week where it's in our hands.

“I'm not even on social media but a couple of my mates messaged me saying, crikey, the run they've been on and yet the first bit of disappointment and bang, the knife goes in. I can't stand it. I hate it.

“All this up-and-down business, you can't be doing it.

“You can hear all the mumblings in the crowd and the 'Top of the league' chants. I don't think there's any getting away from it.

“We've just got to concentrate on us. We might go through the play-offs. We need a bit of calmness.”

Elphick thinks last season’s experience will be important at home to Woking on Saturday and in however many games are left.

“It's huge,” he says. “I remember Wealdstone away, Jeff King getting the sending off (by drawing an Enzio Boldewijn foul). I remember thinking, 'I'm not sure we had that sort of game management in us last season.'

“It's vitally important when you've been there, done it, have an aura, a calmness about you.

“If you look at the stats from the other night, it's not a bad performance. Greg Olley, Zach Johnson and Morgan (Williams) had entries in the six-yard box. If that's a 1-1 game then, it all changes.”

York's belief was backed up by actions on National League deadline day, where their only business was outgoing. Ricky Aguiar joined Eastleigh and Ashley Nathaniel-George Wealdstone, both on loan.

“At this time of the season, they're pressure signings,” argues Elphick. “They're a toss of a coin. They're either going to be unbelievable and the signing that probably clinched it or sometimes it's the opposite.

“We know exactly what we've got and they're blumming good footballers and great characters.

“You're always looking but hopefully everyone stays fit and we have a bit of luck. There's no bad characters to derail us.”

Mark Kitching, pictured, (back injury) is a doubt for Saturday.