Manager can see the signs, but believes his players are still some way off being ready
Mark Robins praised goal scorer Daniel Carr after the youngster scored his first goal in Town colours, but admitted that his players still have work to do ahead of their opening Championship game.
“I thought we were a little bit pedestrian in the first half – we just aren’t quite there yet,” he said. “We looked a little bit leggy and the players need to get used to what I want from them.
“We were trying to keep the ball, but we just couldn’t find the target often enough. We had plenty of crosses in the first half, but had nothing to show for it.
“Overall, it was a great work out, though, against a team who played very well. York were at it and threw their bodies in the way of balls all over the field. In the end we scored a really good goal from Daniel Carr, who found some space in the box and converted well.
“I want the players to be as fit as possible and I believe their organisation will follow as a result. It is still early in pre-season and I am not playing the side that will start on the opening day of the season. Some of them have though done better than expected where others haven’t.
“Jon Stead is at least two maybe three weeks away from being fit; he has got a small tear in his abdomen. It is disappointing because he was flying at the start of pre-season. Joel Lynch felt his hamstring was a bit tight and we took him off as a precaution.
“It was good to have Peter Clarke back, but I have still got Anthony Gerrard out who was a key player last season. I have got four defenders to choose from come the start of the season and I have got options in other positions. I am looking for players to be putting in performances regularly to prove they warrant a starting place.”
