Fresh faces

Making a point: City's caretaker manager Neil Thompson directs his team from the sidelines while reserve goalkeeper Bobby Mimms (right) looks on during the 3-1 home defeat against Wigan

Up, up and away: Chris Fairclough wins an aerial duel during his City debut against Wigan Athletic

Caretaker boss Neil Thompson declared the need for players to dive in where angels fear to tread after a 3-1 home defeat to Wigan Athletic marred his first bewildering week in charge.

The reverse did not affect City's League placing- they hover still in 19th position. But another game has elapsed leaving the Minstermen just ten games left.

Previous seasons have pointed to a safety margin of 52 points. With City still stuck on 36 they need to win at least half of their remaining fixtures.

Now with less than four days left to this season's March 25 transfer deadline City's new man at the helm hinted at even more activity in the market.

Thompson fielded two new players in the Wigan game - striker Marc Williams and on-loan defender Chris Fairclough. Both had encouraging debuts.

But said Thompson: "There's a chance some other players might be brought in before the deadline. Yes, I am looking to do that."Fresh faces will liven things up."

He also did not rule out the possibility that current City players may move on before Thursday's wheeler-dealing time limit.

"Whether we are defending or attacking we have to have players who will get their heads in first, who will get across people. We have got to die for the cause," said Thompson.

"Crosses are not going to go straight to your heads. You've got to get to them. When you are in a run like this you have got to make things happen for you."

Thompson however was determined to extract a positive vibe from the defeat even though sloppy defending was at the root of Wigan's three goal-barrage in the space of five minutes.

"We had a game-plan how we were going to play and it was working so well until those five minutes of madness," sighed Thompson.

"The three goals were all down to individual errors, which have cost us the game. It's a big disappointment.

"But we did play in the Wigan half a lot more unlike at Notts County. Tippy-tappy football is not going to get us anywhere now.

"I have told the lads they have got to come back to work on Monday with their heads held high. They did do what we wanted apart from those five minutes, and at least they are taking in what we are telling them."

Thompson said he had been pleased by the performances of his new signings Williams and Fairclough and added that he was delighted by the City fans.

"I think they knew we were doing the right things and I can assure them that we will be working so hard to put it right over the next ten games."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.