Wilcox still eyes loan moves despite York result

The Minstermen came within a minute of claiming all three points at the Globe Arena with the promotion-chasing hosts needing a stoppage-time equaliser to rescue a draw.

Victory would have been just reward for York, whose impressive performance was in stark contrast to the laboured efforts that marked Wilcox’s first home game on Saturday as Shrewsbury Town triumphed 1-0 at Bootham Crescent.

Wilcox met chairman Jason McGill yesterday to outline his plans after assessing the squad he inherited from Nigel Worthington over the past two games.

The York manager said: “It was important to have a look at the group. People asked me straight away if there would be changes but the players showed me at Morecambe what they are about.

“There is things to build on. I will sit down with the chairman and look where we go. It is important to bring fresh blood into a group. It brings fresh impetus and fresh competition for places.”

Michael Coulson’s 77th-minute strike had looked like giving City what would have been only their second win of the season on Tuesday night.

Morecambe’s equaliser came as a bitter blow but one positive to go with the performance was York moving out of the relegation zone courtesy of their draw and Hartlepool United losing 3-1 at Accrington Stanley. It means the Yorkshire club will go into the weekend home game with Mansfield Town on a plus and Wilcox is determined to build on that.

He said: “There were so many positives to take from the Morecambe performance, even if we were disappointed not to win.

“There was lots of endeavour, lots of great quality when we had the ball and we really played for the travelling fans. There was great width about us, especially in the first half and the energy we showed was unbelievable. We deserved the three points and to say that about a team who were sixth in the league is encouraging.

“Because of playing Saturday-Tuesday, we haven’t had long on the training ground and that doesn’t help the planning side of it.”