THE comeback heroics of Manchester United in their 5-3 defeat of Spurs was running through the minds of Worcester City players as they took the pitch for the Ilkeston Town match.

Fortunately for City it was because they were required to display the same fighting qualities to rescue an unlikely point with two late penalties in the final five minutes.

City's combative Jon Holloway, who gave a typical grafting midfield performance in the 2-2 draw, won two penalties with his (and Man Utd's) never-say-die spirit.

"It's funny because the boys were mentioning the Man Utd match as we came on to the pitch but it shows if you keep going and believe it you will get a couple of breaks," he said.

But Holloway admits City have to learn how to put in 90 minute displays to avoid leaving themselves too much to do in the latter part of matches.

"We really need to knuckle down and get a full game out of ourselves otherwise it's too late and we're two down and the game is over or certainly leaving us with an uphill battle," he added.

"We need to make sure we get 90 minutes against St Blazey and have got to build from that.

"The Ilkeston game was disappointing in the first half yet in the second half we had most of the play and they didn't have a shot on goal.

"I felt they might be the best side we've played this year but from our point of view we need to be playing full games, it's no good playing in patches for 20 minutes here or there.

"It was very similar to Moor Green where we played ever so well in the first half but dreadful in the second."

Holloway, who was pulled away from an end of game melee in the players' tunnel at St George's Lane, said the incident packed game, which saw two red cards and several yellow cards, was made worse by the refereeing.

"I didn't think there was a bad tackle in there, one or two arms flying but nothing too bad and it didn't feel a nasty game," he said.

"The referee should have been a little stronger earlier on and showed more common sense."