Sometimes, you see team selections and know a particular result is coming. That happened on Boxing Day at the York Community Stadium.

For the first-time since mid-August, Gateshead lined up like a Gateshead team. Key components of their promotion team on the pitch in their rightful positions. No players contracted on short-term deals plugging gaps. No 39-year-old player-manager having to play himself at centre-back. A striker leading the line that could stretch the pitch. Strength in-depth on the bench. They accrued over 3xG for, had 24 shots to seven and just shy of 60% of the ball. This was the Gateshead that was competitive early in the campaign and the one we’ve been waiting to see more of this season.

It was little surprise York City hit decent form after the sacking of John Askey, he and the board publicly unhappy with each other and tensions being lifted after the ex-Macclesfield Town manager departed. David Webb rode that wave but the test was always going to come when he was required, or felt compelled, to make a change or two. That came on Boxing Day. Four changes. A change of shape. Two players making their first starts of the season. A striker playing on the left-wing. And they were abysmal.

Gateshead have lost just four of 11 home matches this season and rank in the top 10 for xG for both overall and at home despite their lowly league position. York, meanwhile, have seen just three of their seven wins come against sides in the bottom 16 of the table, against whom they have lost eight of 15 and five of nine away matches.