YORK boss Jackie McNamara claimed last week his side was ready to dish out a hiding. The only hiding his team is capable of is the going missing variety.

Defeat at Hartlepool United was their 24th of the season, and leaves the Minstermen 11 points from safety with 12 remaining. Relegation is imminent.

Pools, who recorded a fourth successive home win for the first time since March 2007, have put 21 points between the sides. When Craig Hignett was named Pools boss two months ago there was just two points difference.

On managerial appointments are campaigns moulded. Hignett has led Pools to eight wins from 16 games, McNamara has four from 29.

McNamara admitted: “We need a miracle to stay up. It’s going to be difficult, especially when we give teams opportunities like we have today.

“I felt we had to win today and we haven’t done that. We’ve paid the price for making too many mistakes.’’

Perhaps the biggest mistake York made was appointing him in the first place. At least Pools realised the error of their ways last season and dumped Paul Murray after seven games to give themselves a chance of staying up.

There was little doubt about the outcome of this one. York pressed Pools high to try and stop them playing and controlling possession as much as they are capable of.

But a lack of quality, ability and confidence meant Pools were never in danger against ten men.

Nathan Thomas gave Pools the lead, York levelled through Kyle Cameron and Pools won it through the impressive Michael Woods.

Against ten men for most of the game, it was actually too routine for Pools, who played well within themselves for the majority of the game.

“It’ a cliché, but it can be tough against ten men. Same with the Mansfield game, you knock off and think it’s easy and not run that extra yard,’’ Hignett reflected. “One up, ten men we felt it was going to be easy, but you can’t coast as a player.

“There was some good bits, some slack and some things I won’t tolerate, but we won and we move on.

“Let’s go and do a Morecambe and step up and go on again and we didn’t for some reason. We coasted and I want to push and not be happy winning 2-1 against ten men and I want to score three, four, five.

“I wanted more tempo with the ball, it wasn’t quite there.’’

Pools took the lead when a mishit corner found it way to Nathan Thomas in the area, and he turned to fire in. After a difficult week, the attacker dedicated the goal to his granda, who died last weekend, and was booked for removing his shirt to reveal a message “RIP Cliff”.

Thomas was also struggling with a lingering chest infection and had to go off in the second-half.

He was taken out by York defender Dave Winfield, who needlessly fouled Thomas when he was already on a yellow card.

Last season, the lumbering defender was red carded at Bootham Cresent against Pools for a lunge at Brad Walker, months after he broke Michael Woods’ leg while making a tackle when on loan at Wimbledon.

At least Winfield won’t have to worry about facing Pools next season.

But the ten-men regrouped, and did make life hard for Pools as they tried to press them high up the field.

Pools, after York levelled at half-time, had all the second half play and could have dished out a hiding.

Scott Flinders, back at the club he served with distinction, made a number of saves, but as proved at Pool last season he can’t keep a poor team in games all the time.

He did make some fine saves, pushing out a nonchalant volley from Woods, and firmly-struck efforts from both Woods and Luke James.

He was beaten when Woods headed in, scoring in front of the 527 away fans – a pretty pathetic turn out given the relative proximity between the clubs.

“Notts County at home was the last we lost and that was five games ago. I felt comfortable and we want to make it hard for people to come to and it’s hard right now,’’ added Hignett.

“I want them to pass it and we took too many touches without moving it. Gaps will open up and it’s the way I want to play. The number of passes in a game is on the up, we do that and I’m pleased.

“We have 50-odd points and it’s great – if someone said that I would be delighted and the situation we were in in my first game compared to a few games ago is phenomenal.

“Credit to the players.’’