York City v Hartlepool: Minstermen told to keep feet on the gas

The Minstermen are expecting a crowd of around 6,000 for the visit of Ronnie Moore’s Hartlepool United.

“Easter was just what we wanted,” said Wilcox, whose side are six points clear of the bottom two and five ahead of their opponents from the North East.

“A home win and a draw at Oxford plus two clean sheets was great but, to come in and see the results to go for us on Monday, that was just what we needed.

“As pleasing as it was, though, we have to keep the foot on the gas. We have not achieved anything yet so we have to remain focused and to get the job done.

“Hartlepool can drag us back into trouble. Things can change so quickly in this game and we all appreciate that. So, there can be no let-up and we have to be positive in our approach.

“If we can win then we will be very, very close. That is a fact.”

York’s record of six wins and three draws against the five teams sitting below them in the League Two table is a major factor in why safety is now so close.

Explaining why City have done so well against the strugglers, however, is not so easy.

Wilcox added: “It is hard to put a finger on why it has been like that. We were discussing it as a staff this week and how important those results have been.

“There is no way we would be where we are now if we hadn’t done so well against those around us.

“We would be deep in the mire but if we can maintain that unbeaten run against Hartlepool then we won’t be far off.”