Little's lions

High flier: City striker Rodney Rowe (right), seen in action against Reading at Bootham Crescent on Saturday, has won rich praise from manager Alan Little.

So decreed City boss Alan Little after Saturday's 1-1 draw with fancied Reading.

One-time Chelsea and Manchester United manager Dave Sexton was at Bootham Crescent to check out Cresswell. Sexton is a highly respected member of national coach Glenn Hoddle's England under-21 scouting staff.

It was the third game in succession that an England under-21 presence had watched City, with 16-goal Cresswell the obvious leading light. For the Preston game a fortnight before, scout Gary Moore was in attendance, while under-21 coach Peter Taylor, preparing to name a squad for the friendly against France at Derby County's Pride Park next month, was at last week's clash at Gillingham.

But Little insisted that Cresswell should not be the only eye-catcher in a red shirt, talking up the claim of Saturday's scorer Rodney Rowe. And he was also thrilled again by another splendid outing from teenage midfielder Martin Garratt.

While Cresswell remains the main interest of a bevy of scouts midfielder Garratt is now attracting attention.

Premiership big-spenders Blackburn Rovers, whose new manager Brian Kidd is said to be keen on the Middlesbrough-born midfielder, had a representative at Bootham Crescent for Reading's visit. Rovers had also taken in City's previous two reserve fixtures in which Garratt featured.

Said Little: "The under-21s have been here again watching Cresswell. But I wouldn't be surprised if they checked out Rowe again. He was tremendous today.

"We have been working all week on the front two being more unpredictable and sharpening up their movement. That showed against Reading. It's added an extra dimension to their game."

Garratt meanwhile continues to impress with his maturity, the 18-year-old carrying off the match sponsors' man-of-the-match award.

"He is one for the future," assured Little. "People will say here is another talent that will have to leave York City. Time will tell, but he is a good player, that's for sure."

Of Saturday's draw Little admitted to being crestfallen at the result, though not at the overall City performance.

His dismay was that his charges did not take advantage of Reading's plight of being down to ten men once defender Andy Bernal was sent off on the hour for a wild challenge that flattened winger Gordon Connelly.

"That's the pity of it. When we play against ten men we don't win," sighed Little.

"Really we have got to win against ten men. When we went down to ten men against Preston they won. That we haven't is a little bit worrying.

"But I have seen 11 players out there totally committed to try to play the right way and to play good football. I thought it was a fantastic performance."

Little's Reading counterpart Tommy Burns was delighted his men had responded after 'the debacle' of their previous 6-0 defeat at home to Bristol Rovers.

But he was scathing of shamed defender Bernal. Railed Burns: "The sending-off was for a stupid tackle and the player knew what to expect for what he did."

Rowe has plenty to shout about

Marksman Rodney Rowe revealed he had been 'conned' out of an earlier chance to open York City's account against Reading, writes Tony Kelly.

Shortly into the second-half Rowe looked certain to pounce on an inviting cross from midfield tyro Martin Garratt. But as the goal beckoned he left the ball completely.

Explained the City striker: "I heard a shout of 'over'. I thought it was Crezzie (Richard Cresswell) asking me to step over the ball for him to run on to. But when I looked behind me Crezzie was at the other end of the area.

"It must have been one of the Reading defenders. I was gutted."

Rowe, however, atoned when he put away the game's opener in the 71st minute to register his fifth goal in the seven games since he has returned to the first team as partner to Cresswell. He is also now second top scorer behind 16-goal Cresswell.

"After missing the first one I was taking no chances. It was a great ball from Gary Himsworth and I'm just glad to be among the goals again."

Goal-maker Himsworth said he was originally going to shoot when he was teed up by Wayne Hall, but as a defender closed him down he decided to get to the by-line before dragging the ball across to Rowe.

"Rodney took it really well and I thought we would go on to win it from there. But we seemed to just step off a little bit soon after the goal and we were caught by a break.

"I thought we played well for the 90 minutes. We tried to pass it around and we all worked extremely hard.

"Other than their equaliser we were solid right across the team."

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