YORK City defender Gary Hobson admits the Minstermen have set their standards high in the wake of their scoreless FA Cup stalemate with Second Division Colchester United.

And while disappointed City did not turn chances into goals, the defensive linchpin heaped praise on boss Terry Dolan for getting City's tactics spot-on.

In a change from their usual 4-4-2 formation, City lined-up 5-3-2 on Saturday - a tactic that not only restricted Colchester to just a couple of sights of goal but produced plenty of opportunities at the other end.

Speaking to the Evening Press, Hobson admitted City could take great credit from their performance but had to maintain their new-found form in the League, starting tomorrow night against Swansea.

He said: "We have shown what we are capable of and hopefully we can go on from this and take it into the league.

"We conceded two sloppy goals against Scunthorpe last week but against a Second Division side like Colchester we have looked pretty solid and created chances at the other end."

He added: "It was a good all round performance and we grew in confidence as the game went on.

"We knew they were a decent side and what they could do so we were set up to combat that with a slight change in formation.

"I think it worked well and the gaffer got it spot on.

"The longer the game went on the stronger we got and we were unlucky not to win it with the chances we had."

Hobson admitted a rare clean sheet for the Minstermen was an added bonus, particularly given the fact Colchester's strike-force of Scott McGleish and Kevin Rapley boast 16 goals this season.

"I said to Alan Fettis during the game are you going to do anything today?" joked Hobson.

"Every week he seems to pull brilliant world-class saves out of the bag but I think we pretty much gave him a day off, and about time too.

"We are probably a little bit disappointed that we didn't take the chances but we will go into the replay with plenty of confidence now."

City boss Dolan admitted the performance was one of City's best of the season.

"It has got to rate fairly highly because we were playing a team in a higher division.

"We set out with a plan and it worked reasonably well apart from not putting our chances away.

"We have scored quite a few goals away from home this season and with Lee Nogan and Michael Proctor we are dangerous.

"So it is just disappointing one didn't go in, although we would have been happy with a draw before the game."

Updated: 09:13 Monday, November 19, 2001