Boss sets his targets for Easter fixtures
Manager Mark Yates is looking forward to the Easter holiday double-header and the chance to extend Reds’ unbeaten run.
If we avoid defeat at York City on Good Friday (3pm) it will extend the sequence without losing to five games, our best of the season.
Crawley are then back at the Checkatrade Stadium on Easter Monday to take on Exeter City.
Mark said: “They are two games we are looking forward to.
“The boys are in good spirits at the moment. Although we weren’t at our best last Saturday against Hartlepool it’s a game we might have lost a few weeks ago.
“But we have looked solid defensively in recent games and when you are keeping clean sheets it gives you that platform.
“We know we can do better in some areas of our performance against Hartlepool. We didn’t pass it as well as we can or perhaps get enough quality balls into the box so those are areas we have worked on this week.”
With Paul Jones back at Portsmouth, Callum Preston will be in goal at Bootham Crescent as new signing Jack Rose won't link up with the squad until Sunday.
Mark added: “Callum deserves another chance. He’s not let us down when he has played and I know he will be desperate to do well. But we need to get another keeper in to keep him on his toes and that should happen.”
York are in desperate need of three points. Manager Jackie McNamara thinks they will need six wins from nine remaining fixtures to give themselves a chance of survival, but Mark is determined that one of them won’t be on Friday.
“They will be fired up so we know what to expect,” he added. “But we are more than capable of going there and getting a result. The squad looks the strongest it’s been all season and there are guys who have been on the bench who are desperate for a start – the competition for places now is healthy.
“With two games in three days we have the opportunity to freshen things up if we have to. I want six points from these two games and I know we are capable of getting them.”
