Hartlepool v York City: Wilcox now looking for clinicial finishing

Bottom-placed Hartlepool and York, in 21st position, boast just five league wins between them in 34 League Two outings in 2014-15 and the stakes are certainly high today.

Win and the Minstermen are afforded respite, but lose and Pools will draw level on points with them.

Wilcox said: “It is one of those six-pointers, even though we are only in November.

“It will not make or break anything for either club, but it is an important game, we are not hiding away from that fact.

“It is a game we can win and have just got to keep that belief and keep performing like we have done away from home as our performances have been pretty good.

“We have just got to improve at the top end of the pitch and that has been the story all season.”

Tuesday’s 3-1 FA Cup replay loss at Wimbledon was indeed a familiar tale for York with a lack of a cutting edge ultimately spelling their downfall.

York had the boost of an early opener from Wes Fletcher but getting that second goal when in the lead remains another thing entirely and is a problem Wilcox has pinpointed.

Wilcox added: “Fourteen goals in 17 league games is not a great statistic and one we certainly need to improve on that.

“It is just getting that second goal when we get in front. I am sure if we get that, someone is going to get a good hiding one of these days.

“We need to be creative, but in saying that, we had three or four golden moments at Wimbledon.

“The positivity is we are creating chances, it is just being more clinical in that final third.”