York manager Nigel Worthington blamed the arduous cross-country journey for his side's lethargic showing, despite the Minstermen picking up a 1-1 draw at Exeter.
Last season's play-off semi-finalists trailed to David Wheeler's eighth-minute header for the Grecians, but salvaged a point from a game lacking in quality when Keith Lowe rose at the back post from a corner kick.
"It looked like five games in a short space of time," he said. "We had a long journey and it was about 35 minutes until we started passing the ball anywhere near what we can do. We made hard work of it.
"Exeter played quite well and that might have been down to us not doing our jobs as well as we have been doing. But a point away from home is never a bad result and we will move on.
"You look at the previous four games and the performance levels have been excellent. Today was a hit and miss performance. We played less than average today and we still got a point. That is not a bad thing.
"We are still unbeaten but we need to push on and get three points. We need to try and force the situation if we can and pass the ball as well as we did in the previous four games.
"Keith Lowe has got two goals this season now. We need goals from every department and he is doing his bit at the moment."
Exeter manager Paul Tisdale was frustrated with a point, which leaves the Grecians still searching for their first win of the season.
"I thought it was a competitive, wholehearted performance from the team and I am really proud of their commitment," Tisdale said. "They know how important the points are, times are tough right now, but they didn't half put themselves about.
"I am disappointed for them and for me and for the supporters to only get a point, but it is a point and I think they put themselves about terrifically well.
"We didn't play too much football at the start, but we certainly challenged their back four. I haven't got many cards to play with at the moment and we threw them all at the first 15-20 minutes.
"After that, we had very few options, but we went for it at the start and we were competitive and direct at their back four and I thought we deserved that early goal.
"Like I say, we don't have many cards to play with and I have to be versatile with the players I have. Scot Bennett is a defender that started up front today and ended up in midfield. If I had three Scot Bennett's I would play them all."