YORK City’s defence will need to tighten up during 2012 if they are to improve on their standing as the Blue Square Bet Premier’s fifth-meanest back four.

That was the warning from centre-back Jamal Fyfield in the wake of a run which has seen the Minstermen ship eight goals in the last three home games.

Fyfield, who replaced the injured David McGurk midway through the 2-2 New Year’s Day draw with Mansfield Town at Bootham Crescent, said: “We keep letting ourselves down by conceding sloppy goals.

“We can’t keep doing that if we are to achieve our goal of promotion so we will get that right as a defence.

“I don’t think you can question our character but we’ve got to start keeping clean sheets again.”

Preventing the opposition from finding the net rather than making the scoresheet himself, therefore, continues to motivate Fyfield even if he is developing a reputation as a classy goalscoring centre-back – his deft chip against Mansfield adding to a backheeled effort against Braintree earlier in the season.

On that matter, Fyfield added: “My father keeps getting on at me to score more goals but I keep telling him the priority is keeping clean sheets. Sometimes, when the strikers are not scoring, you need goals from all positions so I will try to keep chipping in with some but don’t expect too many.

“On Sunday, I saw Pars (Daniel Parslow) going up for the header and thought nine times out of ten he will win the ball in that situation. I just concentrated on getting myself in a good position and, luckily, it dropped to me and I finished it off.

“I saw the ’keeper coming towards me and thought where I put it was the only way I could score.”

After an error-strewn display at centre-back in the 3-2 defeat to Kidderminster last month, Fyfield started the Boxing Day clash at Mansfield as a left wing-back but was withdrawn during the half-time interval and found himself relegated to the bench for the return fixture on New Year’s Day.

On his reaction to that experience, he said: “I made a mistake a couple of games ago and the gaffer saw fit to make a change. When that happens, you just have to get your head down and be professional.

“Unluckily for TY (McGurk), he got a calf injury and I got the nod to go on and do my job.”

Reflecting on the end of one year in which he established himself as a professional footballer and the beginning of another, Fyfield added: “You could say 2011 was my best year in football and I just want to carry on playing because I’m sure we can get to where we want to go.

“There’s enough quality in the squad to get us promoted and the coaching staff are great. We want promotion and, if it’s not automatic, then I’m very sure we can beat any team in the play-offs.”