STRAIGHT-TALKING Chris Brass refused to pull any punches after York City crashed out of the LDV Vans Trophy at the first hurdle to Nationwide Conference opposition.

The Minstermen continued their poor run in the competition with last night's 2-1 defeat at Halifax Town.

While City at least scored their first goal away from Bootham Crescent since August, it was still another disappointing away-day performance from City, who have not now won in six attempts on the road.

Brass made good his pledge to ring the changes last night making six in total and handing a number of fringe first-team players a chance to stake a claim for an extended run in the first-team.

However, the City chief admitted a number of those players had blown their chance following a poor showing at the Shay.

"After performances like that I don't think there will be anyone knocking on my door asking why if they aren't in the team on Saturday, " fumed Brass.

"One or two players were given an opportunity and I asked one or two questions. Unfortunately, they haven't been answered.

"I expected players to step forward and be ruthless to keep the shirt and make it difficult for me to pick a team on Saturday, but they haven't."

City trailed to Ryan Mallon's first half strike when Halifax defender James Dudgeon was dismissed for tripping City's Jon Parkin.

Darren Dunning scored from the penalty and with 20 minutes remaining City looked set to go on and claim victory.

However, another defensive lapse enabled the ten men of Halifax to bag a second goal with little more than ten minutes remaining and book a place in round two.

"I think we just thought we were going to go on and win the game after the penalty," said Brass.

"Football doesn't happen like that. You have to work hard and for whatever reason we didn't take the game to Halifax.

"They continued to plug away and slack marking and another mistake at a free-kick has meant we have gone a goal behind again."

As well as a number of changes in personnel, City also switched to a 4-4-2 formation but Brass insisted the changes could not be used as an excuse.

"We all know each other and we all know each other's games. We all know how to play 4-4-2 and as a professional footballer you should be able to adapt to whatever formation you are asked to play and do an adequate job."

Brass revealed Lee Bullock (hamstring) and Darren Edmondson (calf) could be in line for a return to the first team squad for the visit of Boston United.

The City chief was omitted from last night's squad after suffering mild concussion in the 2-0 defeat at Mansfield last Saturday.

Updated: 11:25 Wednesday, October 15, 2003