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Wilcox hails York showing

Image: Russ Wilcox: Delighted with big victory

Delighted Russ Wilcox hailed York's best display since he became manager as his 10-man side powered to a 4-1 win at Mansfield.

By the time goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik was sent off for handling the ball outside his box, York were already 2-0 up through goals from Keith Lowe and Shaq Coulthirst. Jake Hyde then scored a vital third just after the break and, after Matt Rhead pulled one back for Mansfield, Coulthirst capped a great performance with his second goal of the game at the death. A first win in five, it edged York three points away from the drop zone and Wilcox said: "It was the best performance since I took over because of playing for so long with 10 men at a difficult place against a big, powerful team. "The three centre-halves were immense, along with the rest of the group. "That was the base to build from and they were the catalyst that kicked us on. They got first contact on most balls that came into our box and showed their experience. "It was a brave decision to keep on two strikers when the keeper was sent off and take off my captain instead. It would have been easy to take a striker off and say let's try to see it through, but I wanted to keep two up the top and they caused problems all afternoon. "It was the icing on the cake to score from two corners. They were two fantastic deliveries by Josh Carson and it just shows what can happen when you make first contact, you get opportunities to score goals. "The main thing to take from today was the mental side of it. "We spoke before the game that Mansfield would put the ball into our box at every opportunity, sometimes with quality and sometimes not, and we dealt with it very well. "To play with 10 men for an hour and still manage to score two more goals as well and continue to show great shape, commitment and organisation was tremendous. "We weathered a bit of a storm at the end and there were a few nervous moments at 3-1, but to get the fourth goal at the end topped it off nicely. "I am proud of the group, but we have to go again next weekend. "Easter weekend is always a huge weekend with two games, nothing will be decided but if we can perform like that we can push ourselves further out of trouble." Mansfield are still not safe, seven points from the relegation spots. By contrast, furious Stags manager Adam Murray felt it was the worst display of his tenure. He said: "That was shambolic and the lowest point of my 20-odd games. We were gutless, spineless and I am ashamed to represent that tonight. "We didn't do the basics. We didn't defend set pieces, we lacked bravery in possession and we didn't win any battles. The ball became a hot potato. "We owe people an apology tonight. Every single person that came to the game deserves an apology. That was not acceptable. "The bottom line hasn't changed as I have said all along this will go to the wire. We had a few wins recently, but we are not good enough to pull ourselves out of it and go through a time when we don't need the points. "Today showed we are a million miles away. Now we have three ridiculously tough games and the boys need to get their heads out of their backsides. "There are no excuses. We showed no courage, no passion and no pride. "We now have to dust ourselves down and go again. We have seven games left and we need some points. "We have got to stick together. No one is going to help us. We are on our own. "We can't dwell on it or feel sorry for ourselves. Games are coming thick and fast and we now have seven World Cup finals. "We didn't look a team. We looked like an outfit that was scared to death. It's ripped my heart out to be honest. "Three months ago my remit was to keep this football club in the League. I will fight and scrap to do that which will then allow me a decision if I need this. Sometimes you've got to look at the battles you are fighting."

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