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A comfortable win over an uninspiring Exeter side took York to 7 points from their first 3 games, and left supporters wondering whether League Two is such a step up after all. The game saw long spells of the home side dominating possession while the visitors sat in a low block: a common sight for York against the lesser sides in the National League over recent years, but perhaps less expected when facing opponents like Exeter who were two divisions higher only a few months ago. Yet, other than a late flurry after pulling a goal back in stoppage time, the visitors offered little threat, and the Minstermen secured the three points without really having to hit top gear.

On a drizzly late August afternoon, the Exeter squad was seemingly as unsettled as the weather, as two of their key players in Jayden Wareham and Luca Woodhouse didn't make the trip north amid speculation linking them from moves away from the club. Sonny Cox and Ethan Sutherland were drafted in as replacements, with one other enforced change seeing Taylor Perry replace the injured Jake Doyle-Hayes. For the home side, the injury sustained by Zak Johnson last weekend at Rotherham saw Ryan Fallowfield come into the eleven for a first start in the EFL for over four years. New loan signing Jovan Malcolm, meanwhile, was named on the bench.

York started on the front foot, and took the lead with the first meaningful attack of the game after 7 minutes. A driving run from Joe Grey took him from the halfway line to the edge of the Exeter area, where he slipped the ball out to Harry Boyes on the left. Boyes’ first-time cross found Alex Newby six yards out, and Newby continued his free-scoring early season form, calmly slotting the ball low past Jack Bycroft. Boyes and Newby have quickly established an understanding on the left, with this marking the third time in as many games that they’ve combined for a goal.

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Newby came close to doubling his tally three minutes later, when a Joe Grey cross from the right found its way to him. Newby’s goalbound effort was well struck but Bycroft was equal to it this time, reacting impressively to tip the shot just over the bar. While the home side continued to have long spells of possession as the half wore on, Exeter’s defence began to get more of a handle on the game and clear chances were at a premium.

On 25 minutes, the 8,000 strong crowd joined in applause to commemorate the tragic passing of former York player Quevin Castro, who died suddenly last week aged just 25 after collapsing on the pitch in a game in Portugal. The minute must have held an extra poignancy for Ryan Fallowfield and Alex Hunt, who had both previously played alongside Castro at the LNER, but also for Jovan Malcolm on the substitute’s bench who came through the same youth setup as Castro at West Bromwich Albion.

Although York didn’t follow up Newby’s goal and saved effort with a further flurry of chances, their overall dominance in the first half was summed up perfectly by an exchange of several passes between Ollie Banks and Joe Grey in midfield after half an hour. The City pair, sensing that no opposition player was looking to put pressure on them, briefly turned the game into a training exercise, with their fun only spoiled when Exeter’s Reece Cole took exception and committed a clear foul on Grey.

The second half got off to a bizarre start when the visitors’ forward Sonny Cox fell to the ground upon re-entering the pitch and had to be replaced by George Birch. It turned out that Cox had suffered an allergic reaction prior to the game, which may go some way to explaining a fairly dismal first-half showing in which he touched the ball just five times and completed one successful pass. Whether prompted by the change or a rousing half-time team talk by manager Matt Taylor, the Grecians improved in the early stages of the second period, with Ryan Fallowfield booked for a late challenge that prevented a dangerous-looking attack down Exeter’s left flank.

York soon re-established control, however, and had an excellent chance just before the hour mark when Grey’s through ball found Joe Felix just inside the area. Felix’s shot was struck with power but was a little too close to Bycroft, who was able to parry the attempt. Not long after, Ollie Banks felt he should have had a penalty after he played a one-two with Felix before going to ground under a challenge by Gwion Edwards, although Edwards looked to have made contact with the ball first.

Scott Lindsey made a triple substitution on 65 minutes, introducing Jeff King and Arthur Read along with Jovan Malcolm making his first appearance for the club. The debutant was involved soon after his introduction, bringing down a Mark Kitching pass on his chest and advancing towards goal, but his next touch took the ball a little too wide and Bycroft was able to cover the angle and save. Bycroft was beaten shortly after when a Banks header looked to have crossed the line, but the assistant had flagged for offside. Then, the visitors’ keeper was called into action again when Newby was slipped through by Grey and struck a low effort towards the corner that was sent wide by a touch from Bycroft’s outstretched leg.

On 76 minutes, York finally scored the second goal that their play had warranted. A corner from the right was swung in by Boyes, and Malcolm rose highest to meet it on the edge of the six-yard box, heading in emphatically via the post. Another goal involvement for Boyes, who has either scored or assisted five of City’s six league goals so far, and a dream start for Malcolm after joining on loan from Stevenage. The young forward impressed overall, not just with his goal but also by being a willing runner and offering a physical presence that troubled the Exeter back line.

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The second goal seemed to jolt Exeter into life a little. Taylor Perry found himself in space inside the box and his pass across the face of goal found substitute Lakyle Samuel, but Newby was well placed to divert Samuel's effort wide. At the other end, Malcolm's City debut almost got even better as he came close with an effort from 20 yards after being set up by an improvised backheel from Banks.

As the game entered stoppage time, York were denied a first clean sheet of the season when the Grecians pulled a goal back through centre-back Jack Fitzwater. A cross was played in from the left by Andrew Olawubori, who had been introduced from the bench minutes earlier, and Fitzwater was able to find a gap between Kitching and Fallowfield to nod home from close range for his second goal in two games. The goal made for a nervy last couple of minutes for York, as the Grecians committed men forward in search of an unlikely equaliser, but the home side were able to see out the win.

York's bright start to life in League Two under Scott Lindsey continues, then, despite the absence of key players from last season such as Stones, Boateng and Johnson. Greater challenges will await, no doubt, as this Exeter side looked short on quality and confidence, bearing all the hallmarks of a team on the slide. The next task for York is to secure a first away win of the season, with trips to Cheltenham and Crewe in the coming week. Both have had reasonable starts themselves so will be no pushovers, but on current form City will be confident of going toe to toe with anyone in the league.

We’ve met before…

York and Exeter have found themselves in the same league many times over the years, with 52 meetings in total. Most recently, the two sides faced off eight times during York’s four seasons in the EFL between 2012 and 2016, and were evenly matched over that time with two wins apiece and four draws. The last meeting was back in February 2016, when a Bradley Fewster brace helped the Minstermen to a 2-0 win at Bootham Crescent. The Grecians have to look back to January 2013 for their last win in York, when Jimmy Keoghan scored the winner after Michael Potts had cancelled out an Alex Rodman own goal. This will be their first visit to the LNER.

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What to expect from Exeter

Exeter are back in League Two after four seasons spent a level higher. Manager Matt Taylor, who led them to promotion back in 2022 before leaving to join Rotherham, returned in March but was unable to save the Grecians from relegation last season. They have had a fairly slow start to the 2026/27 season, exiting the League Cup with a 2-0 defeat at local rivals Plymouth Argyle then losing their first league game 1-0 at Grimsby Town. Last weekend, however, two early goals secured a comfortable 2-0 home win over Accrington Stanley. It was only Exeter’s second win since January, underlining how poor their form was at the back end of the 2025/26 campaign.

While they have held on to some key members of their squad, transfer activity has been relatively limited so far, and question marks remain over whether some first-team players might leave with the end of the transfer window approaching. In particular, forward Jayden Wareham has been attracting interest from higher leagues after hitting 22 goals last season. So far, two bids for Wareham have been rejected, but manager Taylor has acknowledged that the club need to raise funds through player sales in order to reinvest, so he may well depart in the coming days. Exeter are due to receive a seven-figure sum as part of Ollie Watkins’ mooted transfer to Al Hilal due to Watkins coming through their youth system, but this windfall is unlikely to delay Wareham’s expected exit.

In terms of playing style, Taylor seems to have gone for a back-to-basics approach. Grecians fan Brad Theobald who I spoke to said that “with Taylor in charge we haven’t been playing much football, just old school hoof-ball to try and get up the pitch”. The main tactical question for Exeter ahead of the game is whether they play with a lone striker as they did for trips to Plymouth and Grimsby, or whether to stick with two up front after this approach paid off with a 2-0 win at home over Accrington Stanley at the weekend. The answer may be dictated in part by whether Wareham remains an Exeter player by Saturday.

After spending most of last season as Exeter’s backup keeper, Jack Bycroft is their first choice between the sticks this season. He’s perhaps one to keep an eye on if it’s a tight game going into stoppage time and Exeter win a corner, as he headed home a late equaliser against Stockport in one of his few appearances last season.

The back three looks settled, with Taylor naming the same trio for each of the Grecians’ games so far in 2026/27. Jack Fitzwater will start in the middle of the three and captain the side, buoyed by scoring an unlikely overhead kick in their last game. Either side of him will be two young defenders in Luca Woodhouse, who has impressed since joining from Wycombe last season, and Wales U21 international Ed James, who has come through the youth setup at the Devon club.

There are a few options for Exeter in the wing-back roles. The experienced Gwion Edwards arrived from Morecambe this summer and may be most likely to start on the right. Two loanees are vying for the left wing-back position: Kenyan international Vincent Harper has joined on loan from Walsall and started both league games but faces competition from Wolves youngster Ethan Sutherland. A further option who could be used on either flank is Andrew Oluwabori, although his first-team opportunities have been limited since signing from Halifax last year.

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The two deeper-lying midfield slots are likely to be taken by the Irish pairing of Charlie Cummins, who broke into the first team towards the end of last season after impressing on loan at Weston-super-Mare, and Jake Doyle-Hayes. Summer signing from Shrewsbury Taylor Perry is another option in this area, as is the 19-year-old prospect George Birch. In the #10 position the expected starter will be the talented but injury-prone Reece Cole, although he is another player who has been the subject of speculation linking him with a move away from St James Park this summer.

Up front, Jayden Wareham will start if he remains a Grecians player, either as a lone striker or alongside new signing Josh Gordon. The 31-year-old Gordon has played most of his career in League Two, and scored 9 times for relegated Barrow last season. Backup in the forward positions is provided by academy product Sonny Cox, who has already made over 100 appearances for the Grecians at the age of 21, but has never quite cemented his place in their front line.

York team news

York head coach Scott Lindsey revealed that the club has suffered another injury blow, with a scan on Zak Johnson revealing a muscle tear after he hobbled off at Rotherham last Saturday. Johnson is likely to be out for 3-4 weeks, and joins other absentees Jack Hunt, Hiram Boateng, Frankie Maguire, Josh Stones and Dipo Akinyemi in the treatment room. There was better news on Mark Kitching, though, who has been passed fit to play despite also being forced off at the weekend.

There will be one enforced change for City from the starting eleven at Rotherham, then, with Ryan Fallowfield likely to replace the injured Johnson, a move which would see Morgan Williams shift to the centre of the back three. Other options for Johnson's replacement are Charlie McArthur and Zech Medley, but Fallowfield’s strong showing at the New York Stadium should put him first in line. New loan signing Jovan Malcolm will come straight into the matchday squad and provide competition for Ollie Pearce up front, but may have to settle for a place on the bench for now.

Ollie Pearce has scored a lot of goals over the past four seasons. Looking purely at goals scored in the league, Pearce has got on the scoresheet a remarkable 130 times. And to show how consistent his output is, exactly half of those goals (65) were scored over two seasons at Worthing in the National League South, while the other half were scored at York in the last two campaigns.

There’s a strange quirk to this incredible record, though: he never seems to hit goalscoring form over the first month or two of the season. Pearce isn’t the only prolific striker who has suffered from this phenomenon, as Harry Kane famously scored over 100 Premier League goals and won the golden boot twice before finally scoring his first league goal in August at the fifteenth attempt in 2018.

The numbers for Pearce aren’t quite as stark as that, as he has notched at least once in August in each of the previous four campaigns. And, while he’s yet to get on the scoresheet this season, he did have the ball in the back of the net at Rotherham at the weekend only to be denied by a marginal offside call. But it’s worth delving into the data a little to see how much the “August curse” is borne out.

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Simon and Ben trekked to the brewery in July to help brew a 5.2% IPA appropriately titled Same Old Citra! With Citra hops delivering striking citrus zest, backed up by tropical, piney depth from Mosaic, Simcoe, and Azacca, Same Old Citra is a refreshing beer that’s as clean and crisp as an Ollie Banks outside-of-the-boot strike. It’s designed to be enjoyed whether at a bar with friends, or at home watching those thirteen minutes at the Crown Oil Arena from April for the dozenth time.

Same Old Citra will be launched around the Exeter home game on Saturday 29th August. Before the game, we are delighted to confirm that a cask version of the beer will be available to try at the Slip Inn on Clementhorpe as part of their beer festival that weekend. After the game, all fans of York City and the Same Old City podcast are welcome to make the journey to Trig’s excellent taproom in Poppleton. We’ll be there enjoying a draft version of Same Old Citra, plus Trig’s usual selection of excellent ales and delicious Indian fusion food from Ladoo. As well as pouring on draft, there will be 440ml cans of Same Old Citra available for sale to take home with you.

You can also buy cans of Same Old Citra online from the Trig website now! There are various gift packages available and, excitingly, there are also limited edition collaborative Same Old City/Trig t-shirts available to purchase - there are two designs of t-shirt in red and white, and a range of sizes.

The available packages include:

• Same Old Citra 440ml cans (£4 per can / £22 for a 6-pack / £40 for a 12-pack)

• 4 x Same Old Citra 440ml cans + Trig brewery glass (£22)

• 4 x Same Old Citra 440ml cans + Same Old City/Trig t-shirt (£30)

• Same Old City/Trig t-shirt on its own (£20)

Members of Same Old City Ultras can get 10% off their purchase by using an exclusive discount code. We will also be running a prize draw where one lucky Ultras member will receive a free 4-can pack and t-shirt.

We look forward to seeing fans of good podcasts and good beers at The Slip Inn and at Trig Brewery on Saturday 29th August!

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While the game at the New York Stadium ended with the same 1-1 scoreline, the similarities end there. An incredible 2,479 York fans made the journey to South Yorkshire on this occasion, and will have drawn plenty of encouragement from the team's performance. In fact, while a point might have been considered a satisfactory outcome before kick-off, head coach Scott Lindsey echoed the feelings of most in the ground when he said that City probably deserved all three.

On a balmy afternoon, the travelling contingent packed into the away end were in fine voice as the game kicked off, but in the opening minutes it was Rotherham who looked more confident on the pitch. An early sighting of goal for Paul Mullin was blazed over the bar, though, and City began to settle into the tie.

Joe Grey, a standout performer last week against Bristol Rovers, was again at the heart of York's attacking play. He made the first of several darting runs through the Millers’ midfield and exchanged passes with Joe Felix, but Grey's resulting shot was deflected wide. Another surge forward by Grey led to the ball breaking for Alex Newby just outside the area, but Newby too saw his effort blocked.

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Rotherham were offering little threat from open play, but on 20 minutes they were awarded a contentious corner that led to the opening goal. Kian Spence's delivery found its way to young defender Ewan Otoo who had made a run towards the near post, and Otoo’s flicked finish evaded everyone to find its way into the far corner of the net. While there may have been question marks over whether the corner should have been given, City's defending of the set piece was equally questionable, with a fairly tame delivery being allowed to bounce before reaching Otoo on the edge of the six-yard box.

As against Bristol Rovers last week, having conceded the opener against the run of play City seemed to lose composure for a period, and had Zak Johnson to thank for intercepting a dangerous cross by Jili Buyabu, who looked the home team's most threatening player. Unfortunately, Johnson appeared to aggravate an existing groin injury in the process of making the block, and made way for Ryan Fallowfield soon after, with Morgan Williams shifting to the middle of the back three.

On 40 minutes, after a spell with relatively few chances for either side, City sprang into life again to equalise. Joe Grey's progressive dribbling was again key, as he collected the ball wide on the right after an overhit Rotherham corner and advanced upfield, cutting inside Buyabu before sending a pass out to Harry Boyes on the left. Boyes’ cross made its way through to Alex Newby, who arrived at the far post to divert a left-footed finish low past Ted Cann for his second goal in as many games.

City then had their tails up for the remainder of the first half, and came agonizingly close to going in 2-1 up at the break. First, Ollie Pearce headed just over after a corner was flicked into his path by Mark Kitching at the near post. Then, in the third minute of time added on, an even better chance was spurned. Pearce played Newby through on goal, and when Newby's effort was palmed into Pearce’s path by Cann it looked a simple task to convert the rebound. Pearce took a touch rather than striking first time, however, which allowed Millers defender Lenny Agbaire just enough time to scramble across and divert the shot wide of the post.

Two minutes into the second half, Pearce had the ball in the net as he ran onto a lofted pass from Ollie Banks, took a touch then coolly slotted past Cann. His celebrations were cut short when he realised (eventually) that the assistant had flagged for offside. It looked a tight call, and Lindsey stated after the game that he felt it had gone the wrong way. Pearce's reputation for taking a few weeks of the season to find his scoring form continues, but he showed no signs of rustiness with that finish.

City remained in the ascendancy as the half progressed, and carved out a decent opening on the counter when Morgan Williams went on a marauding run into the Rotherham half before slipping the ball through to Joe Felix on the right. Felix was unopposed as he entered the box, but his cross towards Pearce at the far post was well read by the covering Agbaire.

Rotherham boss Alex Bruce began to ring the changes, introducing defender Kieran Ngwenya and veteran striker Tom Bradshaw from the bench. Bradshaw offered an outlet for the Millers, and hit an ambitious effort from 30 yards not long after his introduction, but it sailed high and wide. City fashioned another chance themselves when Pearce found Newby with a neat flick, but Newby's low strike from the edge of the area stung the palms of Cann.

The flow of the game began to be disrupted by further substitutions: Arthur Read, Charlie McArthur and Jeff King entered the fray for York, while experienced defender Joe Rafferty came on for Rotherham. With a quarter of an hour to play, Bruce was forced into another change as Mullin took a knock and was replaced by Ar’Jany Martha. Mullin's afternoon had been a frustrating one, mostly spent tussling with City's centre-backs, and the change did not seem to weaken the home side.

In fact, a spell of concerted Rotherham pressure followed Mullin's removal. First, Otoo slipped a well-timed pass between the City centre-backs to set the substitute Bradshaw through on goal, but Alfie McNally did well to close down the angle and make a vital save, and Spence’s effort from the rebound was diverted into the side netting by the outstretched leg of McArthur. Then, from the resulting corner, goalscorer Otoo nearly converted a carbon copy of his first-half strike as he met the delivery at the near post, but this time his flick drifted well wide.

City began to look a little weary in the closing stages, but at the death they had another excellent chance to steal the win. Pearce did well to win the ball from Otoo and backheel it into the path of Grey, who touched it on to Jeff King ten yards from goal. The City substitute smashed his effort well over the bar, though, in what was the final kick of the game.

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York had to settle for a point, but remain unbeaten in the league and can draw confidence from having more than matched a side that were two levels higher last season. The injury to Zak Johnson will be a concern: while Williams coped admirably after moving into the centre of the back three, a lengthy spell out for the ex-Sunderland man would surely weaken City's back line. There were also times when the presence of Josh Stones would undoubtedly have helped: McNally sent several long balls upfield which Pearce competed for gamely, but this approach would have been better suited to an attack with Stones at its apex.

Overall, though, it's encouraging to see how quickly many of last year's title winning side have adapted to life in League Two. Joe Grey is thriving in a more attacking role, as is Alex Newby: both look set to be more involved than might have been anticipated in pre-season. Ollie Banks, meanwhile, has settled back into life in a league where he has spent much of his career, showing his typical composure on the ball and dictating play from his new deep-lying position. The New York Stadium might not quite be a “concrete jungle where dreams are made of”, but having now gone toe to toe with two of the bigger sides in this division, City may well be feeling like there's nothing they can't do.

We’ve met before…

Recent meetings between the two sides have mostly come in cup competitions, with the Millers being in a higher league than York for all but one season since 2000. The most recent campaign in which they shared a division was 2012/13, which saw City make their only two previous trips to the New York Stadium. A 1-0 win for York in the 2nd Round of the EFL Trophy in September was followed up with a 1-1 draw in the League Two fixture in February, and Matty Blair was the scorer for City on each occasion. Between those meetings, the teams also played out a goalless draw at Bootham Crescent. The following season, Rotherham - then competing a level higher in League One - visited York in the EFL Trophy 1st Round and ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in the last competitive meeting before this Saturday.

Prior to that, other recent clashes included a League Cup 1st Round tie in 2003/04 when City lost 2-1 at Millmoor in Chris Brass’ second game as manager. City fans will have happier memories of being drawn against the Millers in the FA Cup 1st Round in 2010/11, as Gary Mills’ side forced a replay by holding Rotherham to a 0-0 draw at the Don Valley Stadium, then triumphed 3-0 in the return game at Bootham Crescent with Michael Rankine netting a brace.

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What to expect from Rotherham

Rotherham have undergone some major changes over the summer after dropping down from League One. They have a new face in the dugout with Alex Bruce taking his first managerial role in the football league, and a new structure behind him including Steve McClaren who has taken on the role of Head of Football. The playing squad has also been overhauled, with some notable signings such as Paul Mullin arriving and a large chunk of last season’s squad being released.

With all this change, it’s perhaps to be expected that they’ve not had the smoothest start to the season. Losing at home to Championship outfit West Bromwich Albion in the League Cup might have been anticipated, but the manner of the defeat will have been a worry as the Baggies cruised to a 4-1 win. Then, in their first league game, the Millers fell to a 2-1 defeat at Cheltenham despite dominating possession and creating more chances in the game.

After playing a 4-3-3 formation throughout pre-season, Alex Bruce surprised many by switching to a 3-1-4-2 system for the Cheltenham fixture. Despite losing the game, Bruce declared himself satisfied with how the players adapted to the formation, and said that he considers it a better fit for the squad currently available to him. It seems probable that he will stick with the same system, then, although a return to a back four isn't out of the question. Bruce has also confirmed that there are no new injury concerns for the Millers.

In goal, Ted Cann has continued as first choice from the back end of last season, but now faces competition from USA youth international keeper Julian Eyestone who arrived recently on loan from Brentford. They lined up with a youthful back three against Cheltenham, with 23-year-old Ewan Otoo the elder statesman alongside Sonny Aljofree and Lenny Agbaire, both 21. There is competition for their places from two more youngsters in Emmanuel Adegboyega and Kieran Ngwenya, or if Bruce wants to add experience to the back line then club captain Joe Rafferty could be an option for the right centre-back slot.

On the right flank, the pacy Denzel Hall is the clear standout option but has been the subject of speculation linking him to a move away from the Millers this week. A bid from Salford has been knocked back, so Hall looks likely to remain at Rotherham at least for now. On the left, meanwhile, Jili Buyabu has joined on loan from Sheffield United and made an impressive start, scoring the Millers’ goal in the defeat at Cheltenham. Other options on the wings include Aaron Nemane, a regular at promotion-winning MK Dons last season, and the skilful Ar’Jany Martha who has been capped by Curaçao.

At the base of the midfield three, the energetic Ossama Ashley was signed from Salford this summer and was expected to be a regular starter, but lost his place to Brandon Cover for the game against Cheltenham. In the two more advanced midfield roles, Kian Spence and Jamie Jellis look set to continue: both have recent experience in League Two with Barrow and Walsall respectively.

Marquee signing Paul Mullin looks certain to start up front, and will be hoping to get off the mark for his new side. Fábio Tavares is likely to partner him: having joined from Burton Albion in the summer, the pacy Portuguese attacker opened his account for the Millers in the League Cup defeat to West Bromwich Albion. Another option up front is the experienced former Wales international Tom Bradshaw, but he seems likely to have to settle for a place on the bench.

York team news

After the 3-2 win over Bristol Rovers, we can expect City head coach Scott Lindsey to keep changes to a minimum. Alfie McNally will start in goal, and the centre-back trio of Morgan Williams, Zak Johnson and Mark Kitching looks secure now that Kitching has returned to full fitness. Harry Boyes’ excellent debut performance will have cemented his place at left wing-back, while Joe Felix is likely to continue at right wing-back with Jack Hunt still out injured. Ollie Banks looked more comfortable in a deeper-lying role against the Gas so will expect to partner Alex Hunt at the base of midfield again, although Arthur Read will be pushing for a start.

The main question concerns the centre-forward position, where Josh Stones remains out and Dipo Akinyemi is a doubt having been substituted before half-time against Bristol Rovers. Even if he shakes off the knock he has been carrying, Akinyemi’s starting place will surely be under threat after underwhelming showings in his first two appearances since returning to York. Ollie Pearce may well start at centre-forward, then, with support from Joe Grey and Alex Newby in the attacking midfield roles after both put in impressive displays last weekend.

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Harry McKirdy (29, unattached)

Lindsey has worked with the livewire McKirdy at two separate clubs: firstly during a prolific spell at Swindon before the striker secured a move to Hibernian in 2022, then at Crawley last season. On signing McKirdy for Crawley, Lindsey commented “Harry is a fantastic talent, and is someone I have worked closely with before…the fans are going to love Harry; he’s a great character, and he will score and create goals”. In a season of struggle for the Red Devils, however, he wasn’t able to find his best form and only scored 8 times.

Something of a mercurial character, McKirdy has run into off-pitch issues at previous clubs, but may be someone that Lindsey trusts to understand his playing style. McKirdy offers pace, a willingness to run at defences and an eye for the unpredictable. The likelihood that he may reunite again with Lindsey is increased by the fact that he is currently without a club, and has been part of the PFA pre-season camp for unattached players this summer. He has also tweeted in support of the York head coach after the recent win over Bristol Rovers. While a move for McKirdy would be risky, the fact he has yet to find a club over summer could open up the possibility for a short-term punt while City’s other forwards work their way back to match fitness.

Scott Hogan (34, unattached)

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As opening day wins go, this was one to remember: a comeback against one of the promotion favourites, a debut brace for Harry Boyes, and perhaps most importantly an exciting attacking display. It was a nice reminder, after nearly four months without seeing City play a league game, that we have some very good players. And while it would be unwise to draw too many conclusions from a single game, the performance against a highly-fancied Bristol Rovers side has to give cause for optimism about York's prospects in League Two this season.

The Minstermen line-up saw three changes from the defeat to Crawley in the League Cup. One was enforced, with Joe Felix replacing the injured Jack Hunt at right wing-back, while new signing Harry Boyes came straight into the side in place of Ben Brookes at left wing-back and a fit-again Mark Kitching was selected ahead of Zech Medley at left centre-back. Bristol Rovers changed shape slightly from their League Cup defeat to Peterborough, with Fabrizio Cavegn coming into the side to form a front two with Joe Quigley, supported by Shaq Forde just behind them in a 3-4-1-2 setup.

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City's intent to play on the front foot was clear early on, as they dominated the opening exchanges. Five minutes in, they had a strong shout for a penalty when Ollie Banks’ raking long pass found debutant Harry Boyes who was felled by a shove from Macauley Southam-Hales, but referee Tom Nield was unmoved and signalled instead for a corner. Boyes was involved again soon after when his cross from the left found its way to the head of Dipo Akinyemi, but while his header had power, it was aimed too close to Brad Young in the Rovers goal who made a comfortable save.

Equally obvious from the start was that the game would be a clash of styles. While City continued the possession-heavy approach fans have become accustomed to in recent seasons, the visitors were everything you'd expect from a Steve Evans side: physical and direct, looking to launch long balls towards the imposing Quigley and the nippy Cavegn at every opportunity. They showed little interest in winning the ball back high up the pitch, with City often able to play out from the back comfortably. With one of Hunt or Banks dropping deep and only the front three pressing for Rovers, there was always a spare red shirt, allowing the home side to dominate the ball and build through the first two thirds of the pitch without too much pressure.

York had two chances to make their dominance pay just before the half hour mark. First, Alex Hunt was able to bring the ball forward unchallenged to the edge of the area, but could only drag his shot wide of the post. Ollie Pearce then had an effort from a similar position that looked to be curling into the top right corner, but Young was equal to it.

The home side’s profligacy was punished soon after, as Rovers took the lead against the run of play from their first real attack. Morgan Williams, breaking out of City’s defence to advance into the final third, was dispossessed by Keenan Gough, who then hit a long ball upfield towards Fabrizio Cavegn. The Swiss attacker fended off the attention of Zak Johnson while waiting for teammates to arrive in support, then cut the ball across to midfielder Clinton Mola who was unmarked on the penalty spot. Mola’s side-footed strike was directed towards Alfie McNally in the City goal, but the ball squeezed underneath the Fulham loanee and into the net.

A similarly direct counter presented Rovers with another chance on 34 minutes, as they won the ball back in defence and Shaq Forde launched the ball forward for Cavegn to run onto again. This time, Cavegn cut inside and got a shot away himself, but his effort was too close to McNally. After all of City’s good work in the first half hour, it was the visitors who now had the momentum, with Forde finding pockets of space in attack and looking a threat.

Scott Lindsey made an early change for City before the break, hooking Akinyemi - who had started brightly enough but faded quickly - and bringing on Alex Newby, with Ollie Pearce moving to his old centre-forward role. Lindsey confirmed after the match that Akinyemi had been carrying an injury. The half-time whistle blew, and City were left to make sense of a half in which they’d had 78% possession and a few presentable chances but found themselves trailing.

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The second half began much as the first had, with an early penalty appeal for York as Pearce looked to be tugged down in the area, but again the referee gave nothing. Forde then forced an opportunity for the Gas when he robbed Zak Johnson of the ball near the halfway line, exchanged passes with Fabrizio Cavegn then hit a low strike goalwards, but Williams was well placed to block it. York fashioned a chance of their own soon after, Alex Hunt cleverly feeding a low ball to Ollie Pearce from a corner, but Pearce’s effort flew just over the bar.

Then, on the hour mark, City’s equaliser arrived. Joe Grey, carrying the ball forward on the right, found himself up against experienced Rovers midfielder Richie Smallwood. Feigning to come inside, Grey then darted past Smallwood before advancing into the box and cutting the ball across to Alex Newby, who found enough space between two defenders to bury a first-time strike via the palm of the helpless Young. It was a just reward for City, whose attack now looked more fluid with Pearce at the apex and Newby and Grey combining well in support. And, with the catharsis of the club’s first goal in the football league in over a decade, the mood in the ground lifted.

Three minutes later, the Minstermen’s afternoon got even better. A clearance by Riley Harbottle was intercepted by Ollie Banks, and the City midfielder - looking more at home in the deeper midfield role than he had against Crawley - exchanged passes with Grey before finding Pearce on the edge of the area. Pearce, his path to goal blocked by several opposition defenders, instead passed to Boyes on the left of the area, and Boyes unleashed a low strike that nestled in the bottom corner. It was a superb left-footed finish from the City debutant, generating plenty of power with minimal backlift and leaving keeper Young rooted to the spot.

With York ahead, the away side were now forced to show greater attacking intent, but they were unable to fashion any clear-cut chances, as Jack Sparkes swung in a series of inviting deliveries from corners but City’s defence rose to the challenge. On 77 minutes, however, they were handed a lifeline when referee Nield awarded a penalty for an innocuous-looking push by Boyes on Forde. The decision looked soft in real time, and appears no less generous on repeat viewings, especially considering Nield’s failure to punish a far more robust challenge on Boyes in the first half. Substitute Tommy Leigh sent McNally the wrong way from the spot, and Rovers were level.

Boyes’ first City start couldn’t be soured that easily, though. Just two minutes later, Banks hung up a cross to the far post that Newby rose to head back across goal, and Boyes was there - cropping up out of position on the right - to nod the ball in between Young and the post. Two debut goals for City’s new left wing-back, who hadn’t scored in 57 previous appearances in the EFL and only notched once for Southend in the National League last season. And, more importantly, the lead restored for York with ten minutes left to play.

City had chances to put the game out of sight in the closing stages, with Pearce flashing a shot wide after Grey’s drilled cross found him, and substitute Arthur Read forcing Young into a save. Rovers’ best chance of an equaliser fell to Bobby Kamwa, but his shot was deflected over.

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The final whistle blew, and the points belonged to York. This time, Scott Lindsey joined his players in applauding the sellout home crowd, sensing that the atmosphere had changed and that the fans were appreciative of his team’s performance. City’s attacking play was impressive for large spells of the game, with Grey, Boyes and Newby all standout performers. At the back, Johnson coped admirably with the aerial threat of Quigley, while Kitching and Williams mostly looked confident bringing the ball out of defence. There were occasions when Rovers’ direct approach looked dangerous, including the opening goal, but they carved out few clear opportunities.

It’s still very early days for Scott Lindsey’s York side, but this was a promising start to the league campaign after an underwhelming display against Crawley. And let’s not forget the bigger picture. York’s last home game as a football league club, just over a decade ago, also came against Bristol Rovers: a 4-1 defeat at Bootham Crescent under Jackie McNamara. Things might not be perfect now, but we’ve come a long way since then.

We’ve met before…

York don’t have fond memories of their last few encounters with the Gas. The last meeting was in April 2016, when a Minstermen side already relegated from League Two under the management of Jackie McNamara fell to a 4-1 home defeat, with Kenny McEvoy scoring a consolation. That win completed a double for Rovers over York in the 2015/16 season: the game at the Memorial Stadium in December saw City take the lead through Vadaine Oliver only to lose 2-1.

In fact, City have failed to win any of their last seven meetings with the south-west club. Their last win came back in December 2012, when Gary Mills’ side ran out 4-1 winners at Bootham Crescent, with Ashley Chambers hitting a brace. York can take heart from the fact that Rovers have a terrible recent record in opening day fixtures, though, having only recorded one opening day win in the last fourteen seasons.

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What to expect from Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers are strongly fancied as promotion contenders this season, currently being the bookies’ second favourite for the League Two title behind Salford. This is despite Rovers only finishing in 14th last season: expectations are that their late season form under Steve Evans, that saw them win 11 of their last 14 league games, can continue from the start of this campaign. This optimism is supported by their summer recruitment, which has seen three key loanees from the second half of last season return to the club in Kofi Balmer, Richie Smallwood and Tommy Leigh.

Their 2026/27 campaign did start with a defeat, however, as they lost 1-0 at home to Peterborough in the first round of the League Cup. Evans is likely to continue setting the team up in a 4-2-3-1 system for the trip to York, but with healthy competition for places in their squad there could be changes to the starting eleven.

In goal, Brad Young is expected to continue after becoming first choice over the second half of last season. Kofi Balmer is a near-certainty to start at centre-back after signing permanently from Motherwell. Club captain Alfie Kilgour picked up a knock in pre-season so could partner Balmer in the centre of defence if fully fit, otherwise Riley Harbottle may keep his place. At right-back, Macauley Southam-Hales started the League Cup tie last week but faces competition from experienced new signing Tom James, while on the other side of defence Ben Purrington signed this summer from Cambridge and looks to have displaced Jack Sparkes as first choice left-back.

At the base of midfield, the starting pair Evans has favoured is Richie Smallwood - signed permanently this summer from Tranmere after a successful loan spell - and Clinton Mola who has thrived after being converted from a defender by Evans last season. There are two young loanees who may be pushing for a start in midfield after coming off the bench against Peterborough, however, in the form of Reiss Russell-Denny and Keenan Gough.

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Shaq Forde is expected to keep his place in the attacking midfield three, and will find himself in familiar surroundings at the LNER after playing 20 games for York while on loan in the 2022/23 season. Either side of him in the wide attacking positions, Tommy Leigh is likely to start after returning on loan from Bradford, while Jack Aitchison signed from Exeter this summer and started the League Cup game. Other options in this area of the pitch include another new signing in winger Bobby Kamwa who joined recently from Newport, and Swiss attacker Fabrizio Cavegn who scored 15 goals for the Gas last season.

At centre-forward, Evans tends to favour a target man with physical presence, so the powerful Joe Quigley looks the most likely starter, with injury ruling out two other candidates in Promise Omochere and Ellis Harrison. Cavegn could also be used up front, while Dutch forward Mees Rijks is most likely to be an option off the bench.

York team news

City head coach Scott Lindsey has confirmed a few absences through injury, with Josh Stones still not fully recovered from his back problem, and Jack Hunt (hamstring), Frankie Maguire (plantar fasciitis) and Craig Hewitt (shoulder) joining him on the treatment table. Hiram Boateng will also be absent as he recovers from injury over the next couple of months, but some better news for Lindsey is the return to training of Mark Kitching.

Alfie McNally will surely continue in goal, while the three centre-backs are likely to be unchanged unless Kitching is fit enough to start in place of Zech Medley at left centre-back. The starters in both wing-back positions may be changed from the Crawley defeat, however, as new signing Harry Boyes will likely start in place of Ben Brookes on the left, and either Joe Felix or Jeff King should step in at right wing-back to replace the injured Jack Hunt.

It will be interesting to see whether Lindsey continues to select Ollie Banks as one of the two deeper-lying midfielders. It may be that either Arthur Read or Mark Shelton make their competitive debuts instead alongside Alex Hunt. In the two attacking midfield spots, Ollie Pearce and Joe Grey started against Crawley and may retain their spots, but other options include Alex Newby and Greg Olley. With Stones still out, Dipo Akinyemi is the most obvious candidate to play at centre-forward, unless Pearce is moved into that role.

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The League Two season is almost upon us, so it’s time for…

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Accrington Stanley

Last season: 16th

Accrington have spent the last three seasons battling towards the bottom end of League Two, and there’s little reason to think this season will be any different. Working with one of the lowest budgets in the league, manager John Doolan has found a way to just about keep them up in recent years, partly through clever use of the loan market. Doolan tends to set Stanley up in a 3-4-1-2 system, placing a priority on defensive organisation, physicality and directness.

They do have some useful players: Farrend Rawson is a no-nonsense centre-back who won their player of the season for 2025/26, while another of their centre-backs Devon Matthews is highly-rated but is attracting interest from bigger clubs so may leave. At the other end of the pitch, their most notable signing is striker Cole Stockton from Salford City who brings goalscoring pedigree at this level. Otherwise, their recruitment comes mainly from non-league with the likes of midfielder Stefan Mols arriving from Tamworth as well as Southport captain Tom Moore.

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Barnet

Last season: 8th

It took a while for Barnet to adapt to League Two last season after winning promotion from the National League. They got off to a slow start and struggled to get results, even if the underlying data suggested they were one of the strongest sides in the league. Their form took an upturn in the second half of the season, though, and they were unfortunate not to make the playoffs: a points total of 76 would typically be enough for a playoff place but they ended up just outside the top 7. Dean Brennan is a much-admired manager at The Hive, having improved the Bees’ league finish in every season since taking charge in 2021. His side typically dominate possession and look to press with intensity high up the pitch to win the ball back. Last season saw some experimentation with a back four after Brennan had favoured a 3-4-2-1 system in the National League.

Barnet have lost some important players over the summer, with Ryan Glover joining Stockport and Callum Stead moving to Cambridge (as well as Mark Shelton making the switch to York). They’ve been active in bringing in replacements, though, with the midfield duo of Brandon Comley and Charlie Lakin arriving from Walsall, and wide player Tom Knowles joining from Forest Green Rovers. Their defence remains strong, with Nik Tavares and Danny Collinge adding composure at the back, and Adam Senior offering attacking threat from wing-back. Nnamdi Ofoborh had an impressive breakout season in 2025/26 and will be key to their midfield, while up front Kabongo Tshimanga will look to continue the form that saw him score 12 times since arriving in January.

Bristol Rovers

Last season: 14th

The Gas had Steve Evans to thank for rescuing them last season: he arrived in December with the club unexpectedly mired in a relegation fight, but brought in some loanees who made a big contribution in the second half of the season to see Rovers finish comfortably clear of trouble. Their late season form, in which they won 11 of their last 14 games, has led many to expect a promotion push this time out. Evans’ team will adopt a very direct, physical style with an emphasis on high workrate, effective set pieces, and long diagonal balls towards wide players. They mostly set up in a 4-3-3 formation under Evans last season but he is not tied to a specific system so this could be adapted.

Rovers moved quickly this summer to secure the return of three of the loan players who helped turn around their season in 2025/26. Kofi Balmer has now signed permanently from Motherwell, and should form a formidable centre-back pairing with Alfie Kilgour who offers a big physical presence. Experienced midfielder Richie Smallwood also returns from Tranmere, this time on a permanent deal, and attacking midfielder Tommy Leigh is back for another loan spell from Bradford. A familiar face for York fans in Rovers’ attacking line is Shaq Forde, who has had a somewhat troubled time at the club but now looks to be a key figure under Evans.

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Cheltenham Town

Last season: 18th

Entering their third season at this level since relegation back to League Two in 2024, Cheltenham will be hoping for a happier campaign after flirting with relegation in 2025/26. Following a poor start last season, Steve Cotterill returned for his second spell in charge after leading the Robins out of non-league in 1999, and ultimately did enough to steer them to safety. Cotterill tends to set his teams up in a 4-3-3 and relies on a pragmatic approach in which effort and intensive pressing are prioritised. With former Burnley chairman Mike Garlick having taken ownership of the club fairly recently, they will be hoping for progression on the pitch and to stay well clear of relegation danger.

Their summer recruitment has focused on building a solid defensive base to the side, with goalkeeper Wyll Stanway arriving from Barrow and defender Pierce Sweeney joining from Exeter having played over 400 times for them. It may be difficult to see where the goals are coming from, though, as their standout attacker from last season Isaac Hutchinson is no longer with the club, and their centre-forward options such as George Miller and Jake Bickerstaff have not yet been prolific. The acquisition of midfielder Charlie McCann may go some way to filling the gap left by Hutchinson: McCann was one of the standout players in the National League under Cotterill at Forest Green.

Chesterfield

Last season: 6th (playoff semi-finals)

Paul Cook’s Chesterfield side have made the playoffs in two successive seasons since winning the National League in 2024, but having fallen at that hurdle each time they will be hoping to push for a top three finish this time out. With one of the biggest fanbases and healthiest budgets in the league, it shouldn’t be out of their reach. Cook has tasted success at this level before, having won the League Two title with Chesterfield in 2014 and with Portsmouth in 2017. He sets his side up in an attacking 4-2-3-1 system, placing an emphasis on keeping the ball (Chesterfield averaged the highest possession in the league last season) and playing a high defensive line which can occasionally leave them exposed to quick counter-attacks.

Many of the players City fans may remember from the Spireites’ National League title-winning side are still playing a key role, such as veteran defensive midfielder Tom Naylor and versatile operator Liam Mandeville, although tricky attacking midfielder Armando Dobra has left to join Leyton Orient this summer. Luckily for Chesterfield, they have another equally talented wide attacker in the form of Dilan Markanday who is one of the strongest dribblers in the league. Their incomings this summer include young centre-back Alfie Pond from Crewe, technical midfielder George McEachran from Grimsby, and young forward Fraser Bryden after an impressive goalscoring season in Northern Ireland with Crusaders.

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The early years of Harry Boyes’ footballing education were spent at the Manchester City academy, playing alongside contemporaries including Cole Palmer. After missing out on a scholarship there at the age of 16, though, Boyes moved on to Sheffield United where he would spend the next six years. His first experience of senior football came when he was sent out on loan to Bradford Park Avenue at 18: he impressed in the 13 National League North games that he featured in for Avenue, scoring twice including the final goal in a 4-2 win over York on Boxing Day.

His next loan at Solihull Moors the following season was even more successful. Boyes was a regular for Neal Ardley’s side as they competed at the top end of the National League, chipping in with 5 goals and some important assists, including setting up Callum Howe for a vital header goal in their playoff semi-final win over Chesterfield. Moors lost the final at Wembley to Grimsby, but Boyes returned from the loan spell with his reputation enhanced, having been named in the National League team of the season.

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Clubs higher up the pyramid began to take an interest in Boyes after this breakout season, and the next two campaigns saw him loaned out to a series of clubs in League One. Firstly, he spent half a season at Forest Green Rovers, where injuries initially forced him to wait to make his football league debut but he ended up making 16 appearances and contributing 3 assists. He was recalled from the New Lawn in January and sent out to Lincoln City for the second half of the season, where he appeared 18 times. The next season brought a loan at Wycombe, where he played 29 times before switching to Fleetwood in January, but injury troubles meant he only made 5 appearances there.

The 2024/25 season saw Boyes enter the final year of his contract at Sheffield United, and the Blades decided to keep him at Bramall Lane rather than send him on any further loans. He made his competitive debut for the club in a League Cup win over Wrexham, but mostly played for the U21 side, notching an impressive 8 goals from 30 appearances. Having failed to break through to the first team and now aged 22, he was released at the end of the season.

His next destination was Southend United, where he signed a permanent deal at the start of the 2025/26 season. It was perhaps surprising that he dropped down to the National League given his experience in League One, but it was a level he had thrived at before with Solihull four years earlier. Boyes excelled with the Shrimpers last season, becoming a virtual ever-present at left wing-back and contributing 14 assists in all competitions as they made the playoffs. He also scored a penalty in the shootout as Southend overcame Wealdstone in the FA Trophy final. His strong performances across the season were recognised by teammates as he was awarded the players’ player of the season award.

Despite interest from League One Notts County, Boyes has chosen to join City and make the move back to Yorkshire. The transfer fee has not been revealed but rumours have placed it in the region of £250,000, so the club are clearly putting faith in him as a top prospect. He should be a natural fit at left wing-back in the 3-4-2-1 system used at City, and will expect to be first-choice after neither Ben Brookes nor Alex Newby fully made the position their own last season. His arrival greatly reduces the likelihood of Mark Kitching playing at wing-back, so Kitching may well return to the left centre-back role where he had success last season.

Boyes describes his playing style as “very attacking”, and his eagerness to get involved in the final third is reflected in the number of assists he has racked up. As well as being strong technically, as might be expected for someone coached at Manchester City as a youngster, Boyes is regarded as having excellent stamina, allowing him to get up and down the left flank effectively. Crossing is a particular strength of his, but he is also comfortable taking defenders on and shooting when an opportunity arises. He has all the tools to succeed in League Two, and at 24 should have the best years of his career still ahead of him.

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The shock of the new was everywhere you looked. A new competition for the LNER Community Stadium, emphasised by the advertising hoardings for Carabao Lager. The new man in the York dugout. And even a new-look playing side: only five of the eleven selected here started the game against Rochdale back in April, with Male and Fagan-Walcott having left and Kitching, Boateng and Stones missing through injury. Even among some of those who retained their place there may have been thoughts of new competitors for their position, with Ben Brookes surely unable to ignore the arrival of a new expensive left wing-back just hours before kick-off in the form of Harry Boyes.

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Scott Lindsey's first team selection as head coach didn't feel too far from the kind of line-up his predecessor might have selected, with a similar 3-4-2-1 shape, but there were a couple of interesting choices. Dipo Akinyemi was chosen to start up front in Stones’ absence, with Ollie Pearce continuing in his more withdrawn role from last season. Ollie Banks, used almost exclusively in attacking midfield by Stuart Maynard, was selected further back at the base of midfield alongside Alex Hunt, while new midfield recruits Arthur Read and Mark Shelton sat on the bench.

Crawley, fielding a number of debutants themselves, edged the opening exchanges, and City's new keeper Alfie McNally was called into action on 10 minutes to save Malcolm Ebiowei’s low strike from the edge of the area. But York began to grow into the game without creating too much in the way of clear-cut chances: both Pearce and Akinyemi found themselves in good shooting positions but were crowded out by Crawley defenders. Zech Medley showed his aerial threat, rising highest to meet Alex Hunt’s corner, but his header drifted just wide of Vito Mannone’s goal.

Then, on 24 minutes, Medley was at fault as the visitors opened the scoring. He failed to track the run of Crawley right-back Kellan Gordon, leaving Gordon free to advance down the wing before sending in a low cross that Italian striker Gianni Di Biase fired home from close range at the far post. City had McNally to thank for keeping the score at 1-0 just minutes later, as he reacted quickly to palm Ebiowei's goalbound shot around the post. Medley again looked better going forward than defensively in York's only other real opening of the first half, as he exchanged passes neatly with Pearce before sending a cross into the 6-yard box that was blocked.

Akinyemi had cut a frustrated figure in the first period, receiving little service and having limited involvement in build-up play. A few minutes into the second half he had a chance, though, as he met a Brookes free-kick with his head, but the effort was too close to Mannone. Brookes’ deliveries from the left were of mixed quality, and he was replaced by Alex Newby not long into the second half. Crawley made a triple change, meanwhile, most notably replacing goalscorer Di Biase with the more experienced Danilo Orsi.

Both sides were thwarted by the woodwork either side of the hour mark. First, Crawley's left winger Stephen Duke-McKenna was found by a superb crossfield pass by Klaudio Krasniqi, and managed to evade the challenge of Morgan Williams and get a shot away that deflected onto the post. At the other end, Zech Medley continued to be the main character among City's side, meeting Alex Hunt's corner with a thunderous volley that rattled the underside of the crossbar.

Joe Felix was introduced in place of Jack Hunt soon after, and his energy made a difference to City's attacking thrust on the right flank: he slipped both Joe Grey and Alex Hunt through into excellent crossing positions, but the final ball continued to elude the home side. Another chance from an Alex Hunt corner arrived, as a header back across goal found its way to Pearce, but he could only nod the ball into the side netting. Greg Olley was called into action from the bench, with Akinyemi making way and Grey being pushed further forward.

It felt like York had the momentum and were the likelier team to score, with Crawley's possession much lower after the break. But it was the away side who got the next breakthrough: Louie Watson capitalised as City failed to clear their lines, and while he was able to get a shot away which flashed wide, Zak Johnson's late challenge was deemed worthy of a penalty. Orsi stepped up to take the spot-kick, sending McNally the wrong way to seal the win and book Crawley a date with Watford in the 1st Round on Saturday.

As the tie petered out, the York fans - until then quiet rather than restless - made their discontent clear. The chant of “Stuart Maynard’s barmy army”, such a cry of togetherness last season, took on an entirely different tone. While the players applauded the fans as usual after full time, Scott Lindsey walked straight down the tunnel, sensing the mood among fans may not have been receptive to his presence, even if the situation is not of his making. In his post-match interviews he was keen to take positives from the performance where possible, and stress that the real season begins in just under two weeks.

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Certainly, it would be unwise to read too much into one game where key players such as Stones and Kitching were absent. It would also be unfair to judge Lindsey too harshly for a performance put in by a side that he's spent very few days on the training ground with. And there were some positives: York improved in the second half and started to dominate the ball, McNally looked solid enough on his debut and couldn't do anything about either goal, and Felix's cameo gave encouraging signs that he can become an important player for us once more.

But the concerns were clear enough to see. The lack of fluency in the final third was a strangely unfamiliar sight: indeed, it's the first game York have failed to score in since Solihull Moors at home last September. City struggled to create anything of note from open play, with their best chances coming from set pieces. Akinyemi's second debut didn't give much weight to the idea that he can slot in seamlessly to replace Stones when needed. The deeper role occupied by Banks didn't nullify his creative threat entirely, but whether he has the required legs to be effective there remains open to question. And defensively we looked alarmingly open at times, particularly down the left side where neither Brookes nor Medley convinced with their positioning.

It's early days for Scott Lindsey at York, and the visit of Bristol Rovers for the start of the League Two campaign will be a fairer test of where his side are at. It's to be expected that any new manager will need time to successfully impose his methods onto the players. We all remember Adam Hinshelwood's first four games in charge, and how unrepresentative they were of his overall time in charge. But with the mood music still uneasy after Maynard's sacking, Lindsey may not have the luxury of time that most new coaches would be afforded. It will take a much more impressive start to the league season than what was served up in this game to start turning down some of the noise.

Lineups

Goalscorers

Crawley: Di Biase (24), Orsi (86 pen)

Growing up, football was an ever-present for Scott Lindsey. His dad Keith was a right-back who carved out a solid career in the lower leagues with the likes of Southend, Port Vale and Gillingham. Although Scott was still a toddler when Keith’s professional career ended, his ambition from an early age was to tread the same path. He traces this back to an occasion when, having been taken to watch Liverpool, he was shocked when Kevin Keegan and Ray Clemence came over to chat to Keith after the game having known him from their time together at Scunthorpe United. From that moment, Scott became fixated on pursuing a career as a footballer.

Scott was talented enough to be part of the youth setup at Scunthorpe, the same club his dad came through at, but he never made a first-team appearance and had to look to non-league for his first opportunities in the men’s game. He turned out for various sides across the Midlands before joining Bridlington Town, and it was while playing there that he was scouted by Gillingham. After impressing on trial, he signed for the Gills - then in the fourth tier of English football - and broke into their first team at the age of 22. Making his football league debut for the team where his dad had spent three seasons as a player was a happy coincidence.

When his first-team opportunities at Gillingham dried up, however, Scott made the move to Conference side Dover Athletic. It was here that tragedy would mark his life for the first time. His older brother Matthew was travelling back from watching Scott play for Dover when he was involved in a motorcycle crash: the accident claimed the lives of both Matthew and Scott’s friend and former teammate Alan Nicholls.

While Scott continued to carve out a career in non-league football for over a decade, he was understandably affected deeply by the loss. He said later that “I always blamed myself for it because he came down to watch me play and, if he hadn’t, that wouldn’t have happened.”1 His playing career perhaps never hit the heights it might have done without the difficulty of coping with his brother’s death and the subsequent strain it put on his family: his father Keith was devastated by the incident and passed away himself seven years later aged just 56.

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We’ve met before…

This will be Crawley’s first ever visit to the LNER Community Stadium, with a decade having passed since the last meeting between the sides in League Two. On that occasion, a Michael Coulson strike rescued a point for Jackie McNamara’s relegation-bound side in a 2-2 draw. City haven’t won any of the last 5 clashes between the teams, but can take comfort from the fact that Crawley have failed to win on each of their previous 8 visits to York.

This will be the third season in which York’s first competitive fixture has been a home game against Crawley. The other two occasions ended in a goalless draw (2005/06) and a 1-0 win for York decided by a Craig Farrell goal (2008/09).

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What to expect from Crawley

After securing League Two survival on the final day last season, Crawley go into the new campaign as one of the favourites for the drop. Colin Kazim-Richards was a leftfield choice when he arrived as head coach in March, but under his stewardship the Red Devils secured 9 points from their final 7 games to finish a point clear of relegated Harrogate.

With this being their first competitive game of the season, and following a busy summer of transfer activity for the Sussex side, it’s difficult to predict how they will line up with any great confidence. Kazim-Richards favoured a system with four at the back last season, so it’s probable that this will continue, with a 4-2-3-1 shape perhaps most likely.

There may be a recognisable name in goal, as ex-Arsenal stopper Vito Mannone has been recruited in a player-coach role, and has been starting pre-season games despite not playing for over a year since leaving Lille. Other options are youngsters Jackson Izquierdo, signed this summer after leaving Crystal Palace, or Nick Michalski who has joined on a season-long loan from Blackburn.

Centre-back Charlie Barker has been a virtual ever-present over the last two seasons and should be a certainty to start, with his most likely partner in central defence being Priestley Farquharson who joined this summer from Walsall. The starting full-backs are a little harder to guess: Ade Adeyemo has spent most of his career as an attacker but Kazim-Richards converted him to an unfamiliar right-back role last season so he may continue there, while young Northern Irish defender Jonny Russell is a strong contender for the left-back slot.

Probably Crawley’s most eye-catching summer recruit is midfielder Jude Arthurs, who played a key role in Bromley’s title win last season but turned down the chance to stay with the Ravens in League One and opted to join Crawley instead. He is a likely starter at the base of midfield, and should be partnered by captain Jay Williams if he is match fit. If Williams misses out, new signing from the Gibraltar league Klaudio Krasniqi is the likely replacement, while another option is Nathan Tinsdale who has arrived on loan from Hull City.

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Former Ireland U21 international Louie Watson is another probable starter in attacking midfield. Stephen Duke-McKenna, recently signed from Harrogate Town, is comfortable playing in a variety of roles but may start on the left wing. On the right flank, Dion Pereira is a possible selection if he can return to match fitness after missing the final two pre-season friendlies. The other main contender for this position is former Crystal Palace youngster Malcolm Ebiowei, who was brought in over summer and scored an impressive free-kick against Oxford in pre-season, while Blackburn loanee Osman Kamara is another option out wide.

Up front, Pemi Aderoju has arrived on loan from Peterborough and must be in contention to start. Signed by Posh as a teenager from non-league Biggleswade, he was sent out on loan to National League South outfit Eastbourne Borough last season and scored an impressive 20 goals in 28 appearances. Another option is Danilo Orsi, who was one of the stars of Scott Lindsey’s playoff-winning Crawley side in 2023/24 and rejoined the club this year. Alternatively they could look to Gianmarco Di Biase, a young attacker who has recently made the unorthodox switch from Juventus to Crawley.

York team news

Having managed several of these players across his two spells as Crawley manager, Lindsey will arguably know their squad better than the York squad he has inherited since joining the club this week. This should give him a strong insight into the relative strengths and weaknesses of the Red Devils, even if he will have had only a few days on the training ground to instil his playing system into the York players. He may have a point to prove against his former employers, and with fan disquiet continuing over the dismissal of his predecessor Stuart Maynard, Lindsey will be hoping to begin the process of winning over City’s supporters by progressing through this tie.

There are three York players confirmed to be missing through injury: Hiram Boateng is sidelined for 2-3 months, Mark Kitching is absent in the short term with a foot problem, and Josh Stones is targeting a return to action in the first league fixture against Bristol Rovers in two weeks. Several players could make their Minstermen competitive debuts having signed over summer: Alfie McNally is likely to play in goal, while the likes of Medley, McArthur, Hunt, Shelton, Read and Maguire will all be pushing for a start. City fans will be watching with interest to see which players Scott Lindsey places his trust in for his first game in charge.