York eye Premier League reward after Cup delight

The Minstermen are through to the second round for the first time in 18 years after knocking out Bradford City on penalties.

York were one of 10 clubs from the basement division who progressed on Tuesday night as a host of famous names including Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town crashed out of the competition.

The draw for the next round, which takes place after Thursday’s derby clash between Doncaster Rovers and Leeds United, sees all the Premier League teams bar the eight involved in European competition this season enter the fray.

It will be seeded, though not on regional lines, to throw up the possibility of York facing, among others, Newcastle United, Sunderland or Everton. “Ultimately, we would love a plum Premier League tie,” said McGill to The Yorkshire Post. “Away from home would be great for the finances, though a home tie would be fantastic as well.

“Can you imagine if we were, for example, drawn away at St James’ Park against Newcastle? What a great occasion that would be.

“The main thing, though, is we are through. It is 18 years since we made it through to the second round so everyone is very excited and looking forward to the draw.”

York, who spent eight years in the Conference before winning promotion three years ago, may have a wretched record in the League Cup, Port Vale being the last team beaten by the Minstermen back in August, 1997.

But, just two years before that, the Bootham Crescent outfit did spring one of the almighty shocks in the competition’s history by beating Manchester United over two legs.

McGill was at Old Trafford for York’s 3-0 first leg victory and admits the memory is one she will “never forget”.

In terms of this week’s triumph over Bradford, the club director believes an added bonus of ending the long League Cup hoodoo is that it has helped banish memories of last Saturday’s disappointing 3-0 opening day loss at Wycombe Wanderers.

“Overall, I felt we deserved to win the tie,” she said. “The big thing from Tuesday night was that we won our first game of the season at home.

“The opening day was disappointing, even though we didn’t play too badly. We just made mistakes.

“But what that defeat had done was put an air of negativity around the start to our season. It was important to get rid of it and I think beating a good team like Bradford has helped do that.

“Everyone has been given a lift but the board was especially pleased for the manager. Russ has worked so hard to put the squad together and he deserved a win like Tuesday night.

“Now, we have something to build on. The effort and dedication of the players was brilliant. Particularly the new players, who maybe the supporters didn’t know that much about.

“Reece Thompson and Vadaine Oliver gave it everything and showed just what they are capable of doing.

“The character of the entire side shone through. Not just in the penalty shoot-out but also in how they responded to conceding an equaliser 20 seconds or whatever it was from the end of stoppage time.

“A team in League Two against League One opposition might have just given up the ghost. But the players didn’t, and instead kept going to the very end. It was a very proud night for York City.”

Equally pleased with how York rose to the challenge of taking on a team who beat Chelsea and Sunderland in the FA Cup last term was manager Russ Wilcox.

Subjected to chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ after Wycombe’s third goal last Saturday, City’s win was the perfect riposte to his critics.

“I just thought it was a great night,” he said. “For this club, it was a long time coming. It will generate interest and everyone is excited about the draw. We will get what we get but one of the big boys would be nice to generate some money for the club.”

The Minstermen’s progression to the second round was made all the more impressive by having to bounce back from James Hanson sending the tie into extra-time with a dramatic 94th minute equaliser.

Wilcox added: “We thought we had it won and we had to get into the players after Hanson scored. I have been in that position myself, where you think you are over the line but then the opposition equalise.

“It was all about the mental strength of the group after that and we showed it in abundance.”

Thursday’s draw will see 12 Premier League sides join the next 12 highest placed clubs in the Football League standings as cup seeds.