Harvey says Chester lacked fight

Harvey realises his team still have a long way to go this season

Chester boss Jim Harvey believes his side failed to compete against York during their 3-2 defeat on Tuesday.

"It was always going to be a difficult game for us but to concede those goals [before half time] was demoralising," Harvey told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"For the best part of the first half I think we didn't compete and we didn't play. Defensively we looked weak through the middle of the team.

"Our central defensive paring couldn't cope with their two boys up front."

Harvey added: "We must start games better than we did in both halves. We have to compete for 10 or 15 minutes until it settles down and we get into our rhythm."

The Chester boss has stressed to his players that they will not win every game as they bid to lift themselves off the foot of the Blue Square Premier table.

But having headed to Kit Kat Crescent on the back of three straight league wins, Harvey said he had learned from the defeat at York.

"We must start a game away from home in a tougher frame of mind, looking to win those battles and get settled into the atmosphere, the stadium, the pitch and your opposition in particular," Harvey added.

"You must sort all of that out before you go on to look to win the game.

"But we'll take those lessons into Saturday's match and we'll go to Tamworth and see if we can start again and pick up three points down there."