We're to blame

Dunning believes that no criticism should be levelled at player-manager Chris Brass following Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Doncaster, which meant that the Minstermen will end 75 years of League football at the end of this season barring a mathematical miracle.

He also pointed out that new signings and a good team spirit can be the keys to success in next season's attempt to bounce straight back into the Third Division.

The 23-year-old midfielder said: "As players, we have only ourselves to blame as we put on the shirts. I don't think any criticism should be aimed at the gaffer. He picks the team but it's ourselves, as players, who have got to do it on a Saturday and we have not over the last few months.

"I don't think the manager could have done any more. Every day, you see him in training setting a good example and working as hard as he can."

Dunning scored City's goal in Saturday's match - his second direct from a free-kick in successive matches - but he admitted that was scant consolation when the players learned their fate in the dressing room afterwards.

He said: "The feeling was like being a boxer getting knocked out. Everyone was so quiet.

"In another way, it was like the reaction after hearing a bomb's gone off. We could not believe what had happened and we were absolutely devastated.

"I feel so sorry for everybody involved at the club, especially the fans. They have done a hell of a lot to keep the club going. They donated all that money and it's a pity we could not repay them."

Dunning admits that he finds it difficult to pinpoint the reasons for City's alarming slide down the table.

The Minstermen were in play-off contention in mid-January but a run of four points from a possible 54 has resulted in relegation little more than three months later.

It is a run that has set a new club record of 18 League matches without a win and Dunning believes the only explanation can be a drastic drop in confidence.

He said: "It was party time for Doncaster on Saturday and our performance there was the story of our last few months - we lacked confidence. I can't think of any other reasons for our slide down the table.

"I've laid in bed at night trying to put my finger on why it was happening. I'd loved to have been able to but I just couldn't. I don't understand what's gone wrong apart from the confidence seemed to go in a lot of our players once we started losing."

Dunning is the only member of City's playing staff, aside from the management team of Brass and Lee Nogan, to be contracted beyond the end of this season having agreed a new deal in January.

He did not envisage dropping into non-league football when he put pen to paper but, despite ending last season at Premiership club Blackburn, he does not regret committing his future to Bootham Crescent.

"I have no regrets about signing the contract," Dunning said. "I am playing for my home-town team and all my friends and family are right behind me. I'm absolutely devastated but I don't regret anything that I do."

Player-boss Brass held a team meeting at the Wigginton training ground yesterday as he began the difficult task of lifting morale ahead of two fixtures against Leyton Orient and Swansea that now appear meaningless.

Dunning, however, emphasised afterwards the need to belatedly taste victory again before the season is over, saying: "At the end of the day, we have got to accept that we have been relegated but now it's important to get out of this losing streak and put in good performances in the next two games.

"We need to instil a bit of confidence going into next season because if we don't get another win and extend that run to 20 matches that will play on people's minds. We have got to look to crack on and get promotion although it will be hard."

"Most importantly, we have got to get into that winning mode again. If we win a few games in the Conference then people will probably get back to how they were playing earlier in the season."

Updated: 11:01 Tuesday, April 27, 2004