CITY skipper Mark Hotte will cop a cash penalty for yielding the last-minute spot-kick which proved so costly to the Minstermen.

Manager Billy McEwan confirmed that Hotte would be fined for his dismissal and instructed the former Scarborough centre-back to take more care over his challenges after he earned a second yellow card.

The City boss said: "It was a big disappointment at the end of the match and it has cost the team.

"He was living on a knife edge on a few occasions after his first half booking and gave away some free-kicks before the penalty that could have cost us a goal as well.

"You expect these things from a young team but he's our most experienced player and that annoys me.

"He's gutted because he's let the side down and he was having a good game but he's got to learn to have more patience and composure.

"He was going through people last week and thinks he's got to win the ball all the time. I know it's to do with eagerness and wanting to do well but it's backfired. He was the most disappointed player in the dressing-room because he's a conscientious kid.

"He's apologised to the team and he's big enough to hold his hand up but now we will lose him for a game."

McEwan also rued missed chances that could have put the game beyond Grays before the painful finale. But, with his side still unbeaten after three matches, the City boss was also keen to stress positives.

He ventured: "We are picking up points on the road and we have got something out of every game which is also good. Now we have got to maintain that.

"There were a lot of encouraging signs. We are unbeaten in three games and there's still a lot of room for improvement which excites me a little bit."

Updated: 11:43 Monday, August 22, 2005