Press Sport
Tough prize as pressure cranks up for York City
11:30am Wednesday 22nd February 2012
IT’S time to get tough, declared York City boss Gary Mills ahead of tonight’s crucial Blue Square Bet Premier clash against Gateshead at Bootham Crescent (kick off 7.30pm).
The Minstermen manager believes if his side are to achieve their promotion aims, they must be able to cope with the high-pressure matches that will dominate the run-in to the end of the campaign.
York can move nine points clear of the Tynesiders with victory under the gaze of the Premier Sports TV cameras and Gateshead chief Ian Bogie has described the encounter as a “must-win” game for his side.
While Mills doesn’t see the match in such stark terms, he is more than aware of the significance a victory would have on City’s bid for the play-offs.
“We know we want to win,” he said. “We know the difference it will make if we win – we will go nine points ahead if we do, we will be three points ahead if we lose. Going back three weeks, there was probably a point’s difference between us and Gateshead.
“We have worked hard to get to where we are at this moment in time and, of course, it’s a big game. Of course, if we win it, it will make a major difference in terms of Gateshead catching us.
“It’s another massive game for York City Football Club.
“I am looking forward to it. This is what it is all about. If we are going to be the team and the football club we want to be we have to handle these situations. Those clubs that do are the ones that end up being successful. If you don’t, you fade away.”
He added: “We are prepared. I have got a good squad of players.
“We know what Gateshead are capable of. They beat us up there in September and we owe them one in a way for that. I am looking forward to the game.”
With left-back James Meredith left out of the line-up against Stockport and substitutes Jamie Reed and Matthew Blinkhorn scoring the late goals that handed City a 2-1 win, Mills has a number of players knocking on the door for first-team spots. Only David McGurk is missing through injury.
“I’ve had decisions to make all season,” he said.
“When you increase the size of your squad you have more decisions to make. The situation is still the same. You can only pick 11 and I will pick the 11 that I think will win the game tonight.
“It’s as simple as that. I pick it purely on me, as a manager, selecting a side to win a game of football. Whether it is the same 11 (as Saturday) is totally down to my judgement. Players want to play and some players aren’t playing at all.
“Sometimes I have to make tactical changes and players have to realise that.
“I wouldn’t expect, and wouldn’t want, any player to be happy about not being in the 11. But we are all in this together and I think we proved that on Saturday.”