York City 0 Burton Albion 0: Pope key as York maintain stunning late push

THERE is no one around of Ian Rush’s ilk in League Two so the Minstermen must be confident of emulating the class of ’85 this season.
York's Ryan Brobbel is challenged by Burton's David Gray (Picture: Simon Hulme).York's Ryan Brobbel is challenged by Burton's David Gray (Picture: Simon Hulme).
York's Ryan Brobbel is challenged by Burton's David Gray (Picture: Simon Hulme).

Then, York recorded eight successive clean sheets in all competitions before legendary striker Rush earned English and European champions Liverpool a 1-1 FA Cup fourth-round draw at Bootham Crescent.

Nigel Worthington’s side have now gone six successive games without conceding even though Burton Albion prevented them equalling the 1964 record of seven successive victories as the play-off aspirants cancelled each other out at Bootham Crescent.

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York face an even bigger test at leaders Rochdale on Saturday when they will be aiming for a record-breaking sixth successive away win.

Whichever way the season eventually pans out, 2014 has seen a remarkable transformation in the fortunes of the Minstermen, who looked set to be in for a relegation battle before Christmas.

Since the current back five came together, York have conceded just two goals in 11 games and both came from set pieces.

In 2014, they have claimed 37 points from a possible 51.

The loan signing of 21-year-old Charlton Athletic goalkeeper Nick Pope has undoubtedly been the key and it is no wonder the London club have him earmarked as their No 1 for the future, awarding him a three-year deal last year.

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In the meantime, the towering Pope is standing guard behind a robust pair of central defensive guards in Keith Lowe and John McCombe, while full-backs Lanre Oyebanjo and Ben Davies give opponents little scope for entry down the sides.

The one time York’s defence was fully breached on Saturday came shortly before the interval when Billy Kee, who had tried to emulate Wayne Rooney by scoring from near halfway, controlled the ball on his chest before volleying a 25-yarder against the bar.

Kee was the game’s most dangerous striker but was surprisingly withdrawn on 73 minutes just as the Brewers were pressing.

Before withstanding that late spell, Pope had come to the rescue when Matt Palmer burst into the area and hit a low shot which the goalkeeper did well to partially parry before grasping the ball as it rolled towards the line.

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Opportunities for both sides, however, were limited as Burton’s defence, marshalled by former Rotherham United central defender Ian Sharps, proved as resolute as the hosts.

There was no way, too, that Burton were going to be able to run through midfield as York captain Russell Penn and Adam Reed clearly had a point to prove against their former club.

York’s best chance had come early when Lowe drilled the ball forward and returning loanee Ryan Brobbel showed great control on the left before cutting inside as Rob Lainton dashed from his goal only to see his shot from the edge of the area charged down by Burton captain Lee Bell.

Brobbell’s low cross also set up a shot on the turn for Ryan Bowman which Lainton was happy to see stick between his feet at his near post just before the break.

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Middlesbrough youngster Brobbel was a constant danger out wide as he replaced Ryan Jarvis in the only change from the side which defeated Torquay and the physical presence of Calvin Andrew also gave Burton something to think about when he came on in the 61st minute, after a cameo in midweek, having signed until the end of the season.

Northern Ireland Under-21 international Brobbel certainly detects a far happier camp at Bootham than the one he left in January and said: “I don’t think anyone expected York to be where they are now; it’s brilliant.

“When I first came we were close to the bottom of the table and had not won many games and only scoring goals here and there, but now there is more of a buzz about the place. The lads are happy and confident that they can win games.

“I am working on my Middlesbrough contract – there are still some clauses to sort out – but if York can get to Wembley for the play-off final it will do so much not only for the club but for my career, too.”

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Worthington was happy with the contributions of both Brobbell and Andrew, having lost Josh Carson and Wes Fletcher to serious knee injuries. He said: “Brobbel is in good physical shape and knows what he has to do to stay in the team and he has done that, working back defenisively, and is a nice addition as is Andrew, who is a real handful.”

Of York’s defensive curtain, the manager continued: “I have always said that clean sheets set the foundation for moving forward and it’s important we keep that going.

“Burton have been up there all season and we have competed with them in both games and that is a marker of how far we have come.

“The work-rate by the players was phenomenal and we have to keep that going over the next six games and see where that takes us. We will have to go to Rochdale with resilience, because they are flying high and are my favourites to win the league, but without three points from Saturday.”

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York City: Pope, Oyebanjo, Lowe, McCombe, Davies; Hayhurst (Jarvis 68), Penn, Reed, Brobbel; Coulson, Bowman (Andrew 61). Unused substitutes: McGurk, Montrose, Platt, Ingham, Puri.

Burton Albion: Lainton, Edwards, Sharps, Cansdell-Sherriff, McCrory; Gray, Palmer, Bell, McFadzean (Hemmings 80); Kee (Alexander 73), McGurk (MacDonald 83). Unused substitutes: Lyness, Phillips, Knowles, Holness.

Referee: D Deadman (Cambs).

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