YORK CITY created some unwanted club history as they crashed to a 5-1 home defeat to Accrington Stanley and tumbled into the League Two relegation zone.

The loss equalled the club’s heaviest league defeat at Bootham Crescent since 1957, with goals from Billy Kee (2), Matty Pearson, Josh Windass and Shay McCartan ensuring that York have also equalled their longest-ever run of eight successive losses.

New boss Jackie McNamara has been in charge for six of those games, and the Scotsman has endured a dreadful start to his tenure, with his side having conceded 11 goals in their last two games following the 6-0 midweek defeat at Portsmouth.

Saturday’s display was every bit as bad, with McNamara’s decision to hand a debut to four rookie Under-21 players backfiring.

The only modicum of respite from a York perspective came courtesy of on-loan Middlesbrough striker Bradley Fewster, who came off the substitutes’ bench to claim a second-half consolation.

“I am disappointed with a lot of things defensively,” said McNamara. “I think offensively we started the game well and looked a threat, but I thought they looked like a team that had met each other just yesterday. That was certainly the case with the back four.

“We did think it would be a big ask for them to click so early, but the signs are there that we’ll be a good threat going forward if we can sort the defence out.”

McNamara now has almost a fortnight to work with his players as this weekend’s FA Cup schedule means they do not return to action until they face Bristol Rovers on December 12.

York: Flinders; Lussey (Swan 68), O’Connor, Ilesanmi, Kitching; Godfrey (Fewster 57), Berrett, Coulson, Galbraith (Carson 68); Oliver, McEvoy.