YORK CITY boss Russ Wilcox felt his side’s 1-0 defeat to League Two title challengers Shrewsbury Town proved the club’s future is bright despite their struggles this season.

Having confirmed their survival in the middle of last week, York lost out to a Mark Ellis header despite putting up a spirited display against a Shrewsbury side who need two points from their final two matches to confirm their promotion.

Only Chelsea and Northampton have won at Shrewsbury this season, but York hit the post through Luke Summerfield, had a Shaun Miller goal controversially disallowed and also saw Russell Penn and Shaq Coulthirst force fine saves from former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler.

Wilcox said: “At half-time, we spoke about being brave on the ball and we were outstanding in the second half. We moved the ball around the pitch well and Luke hit the post with a 30-yard screamer.

“Shaun had a goal wrongly disallowed and that cost us a point. We should be unbeaten in seven matches, but the performance gives me great hope and bodes well for the future.

“We didn’t deserve to lose and the players showed they’re not getting their flip flops out yet, which shows me what a great bunch I have got in the dressing room because this game was a worry.

“I thought there was a danger we could be flat and lethargic, so the mindset we showed at the end of a very, very stressful week was terrific.

“We got a win against Hartlepool after going down to ten men and beat Morecambe after going behind to secure our league status so, after all that massive relief, it was outstanding to produce a performance like that against a team who are going for promotion and have won 17 league games at home this season and only lost one.”

York: Ingham; Lowe, McCombe, Zubar, Halliday; Penn, Summerfield, Ilesanmi (Miller 69), Coulson; Hyde, Coulthirst.