New head coach Scott Lindsey believes York City. could have unearthed an unlikely goal threat in summer signing Harry Boyes.
The left-wing back netted twice on his Minstermen debut during a 3-2 home victory over Bristol Rovers, having only scored once for previous club Southend during the whole of last season.
He was joined on the scoresheet by Alex Newby, with Clinton Mola and Tommy Leigh on target for the visitors, as York marked their return to the EFL in style following a ten-year absence.
Lindsey said: “I’m really happy for him. We felt when we watched him that he gets into really good areas and maybe he should have scored more for Southend last season, because he’s got an unbelievable left foot.”
Lindsey also thanked the home fans for their support in a sell-out crowd at the LNER Community Stadium.
The Minstermen faithful had aimed chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” at Lindsey during the 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat to his old club Crawley when they were still smarting from the dismissal of National League title-winning boss Stuart Maynard.
But he was pleased with the response from the stands in this opening league clash.
“I thought the fans were amazing,” Lindsey said. “I’ve got to add that, because I think they had a big part to play in the game, but we also give them something to sing about.
“Against Crawley, we didn’t start particularly well, so that was the one thing that I asked for from the players – to really start well, knowing that there was a full house. It was important that we got the fans onside by doing that and I thought we dominated the game against a good side, who will be up there and around it.
“It was a really good marker of where we are and what we need to improve on.”
Rovers boss Steve Evans, meanwhile, was enraged by the defensive “cardinal sins” he felt individual players committed.
“If you go away from home in the Football League and make big and bad individual errors you’re going to concede goals,” he said.
“We were also second best in a lot areas of the pitch for large spells, but games are always decided by goals.
“We never lacked effort or spirit but those individuals will have to take culpability when we break the game down on Monday.
“It was always going to be a tough game and I’m not sure they know the rules here, because they were showing replays of possible penalties, as if they were trying to influence the referee more.
“But, if you look around today, probably the top four or five favourites have lost, so there are no easy games, particularly during the early weeks and we just have to cut out the cardinal sins we committed on the pitch today. Then, we’ll have more than enough.”