York City manager Scott Lindsey has launched a fierce critique of the EFL Trophy's regulations, calling them 'massively ridiculous' after a 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United's under-21 side. The loss, which came on Tuesday evening, saw Lindsey make ten changes from the team that beat Swindon Town 4-0 last weekend, but he was forced to keep one starter from that match under the competition's rules.
Lindsey selected forward Ollie Pearce for the token appearance, substituting him after just one minute of play. "I said to him after that it was the best he’s played!" Lindsey joked with reporters. The manager explained he chose Pearce because the player lives locally in York, avoiding the need for another squad member to travel a long distance for a fleeting appearance.
Newcastle U21s claim victory
York had taken an early lead at the LNER Community Stadium through Joseph Rabole Felix after eight minutes. Newcastle's youngsters responded before half-time, with Vakhtang Salia equalising in the 44th minute. Kyran Thompson put the visitors ahead immediately after the restart, and Afner Bernardinho Cá sealed the win with a third goal seven minutes from time.
The result leaves York with a record of two wins, one draw and two losses in their last five matches across all competitions. Their next fixture is a League Two trip to face Chesterfield on Saturday. Chesterfield are currently 12th in the table, having taken eight points from their opening six matches.
Rule hinders development
Lindsey's frustration stems from a rule designed to ensure League One and Two clubs field a strong side, but which he believes actively harms the development of homegrown talent. He argued the regulation prioritises the interests of Premier League academy sides over clubs like York. The manager revealed he had to explain the planned early substitution to both Newcastle's youth team boss Robbie Stockdale and the match referee before kick-off.
With the bulk of his first-team squad rested, the match provided a chance for other players to impress. Defender Ben Farrar did exactly that, playing nearly the full ninety minutes and earning praise from his manager for a composed performance.
Despite the Trophy setback, York's league form remains strong. They sit third in League Two with 11 points from six games, just one point behind leaders Barnet. Their next challenge is a trip to face 12th-placed Chesterfield on Saturday. The team has scored 13 goals while conceding eight so far this league campaign, a record you can examine in detail on our stats page.
More detail at The York Press
