Plymouth 2, York 0

New York City chief Terry Dolan will intensify his search for fresh blood this week after returning from Plymouth Argyle's Home Park fortress nursing a 2-0 defeat.

After taking charge for the first time since his appointment, Dolan admitted he was still looking to bring in a recognised left back.

In the absence of an injured Wayne Hall, Bradford City loan starlet Mark Bower made a promising debut for York but is known to be more comfortable playing in the centre of defence.

"Mark did well but it is an obvious area of concern and I will be looking to bring someone in," said Dolan.

The City manager was also left facing more injury woe after veteran 'keeper Bobby Mimms was replaced by teenager Russ Howarth midway through the second half of Saturday's encounter.

Mimms is suffering from a thigh injury and was due to be assessed by City physio Jeff Miller today.

Dolan admitted his plans for Plymouth had been hit by the sudden loss of young Christian Fox, who was forced to withdraw from the squad on Friday evening following the death of his father.

Versatile midfielder Andrew Dawson was then installed on the right of midfield with teenager Marc Thompson switching to the left.

Dolan revealed Thompson would have made his Football League debut in anycase, but on the right of midfield, and declared he was more than pleased with the 18-year-olds' showing.

There was praise too for the returning Kevin Hulme, making his first senior start since the beginning of December after recovering from a double hernia operation.

"I was very pleased with Kevin and the more games he plays the better for us; he was certainly a plus point."

Dolan meanwhile admitted City's performance had given him plenty to work on in training this week.

"My general feeling looking at it now is I just feel we were a little bit tentative as a team but that is not surprising when we are obviously lacking confidence.

"That is something we can work on this week, getting them more decisive and positive.

"I am looking for better and I will be making that clear to the players. I just think we have got to react quicker to things."

Dolan was reluctant to bemoan a lack of luck after the woodwork prevented Marc Williams from giving City a fifth minute lead against the Pilgrims, who have not been beaten at home since April last year.

"But if we had scored then it could have been a different game because goals change games," he said. "We started quite well but then the goal changed that."

City's Wigginton Road training ground was today opening its doors to members of the club's Junior Reds.

Youngsters were able to watch their heroes being put through their paces by Dolan and his assistant, Adie Shaw, before joining the players in a penalty shoot-out.

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