MANAGER Terry Dolan talked-up the positives after York City were forced to settle for a share of the spoils with Rochdale at Bootham Crescent.

The 0-0 stalemate means City remain just one place off the bottom in Division Three and have not know won in the League in ten outings.

They passed up a gilt-edged chance of ending that sequence last night after missing a first-half penalty and failing to make their numerical advantage count when Rochdale were reduced to ten men.

However, as eyes now start to focus on Saturday's eagerly awaited FA Cup tie with Fulham, Dolan refused to be downbeat.

"We are disappointed we have only picked up one point and not all three but Rochdale are in the play-offs and going by this performance they are certainly no better than us," he insisted.

"We have played a lot better over the last few weeks without always getting the right results.

"We have had three draws when we could have had three victories and those six points would have made a big difference

"But the players have worked very, very hard and they can have a day's rest now and we can start looking forward to Saturday."

Another plus-point for Dolan was last night's change in formation, from 3-5-2 to 3-4-3, which could add another string to City's bow for the match with Fulham and beyond.

"It is important to be flexible and it gives us alternatives to be able to play against different opposition systems," he explained.

"But I wanted to give Nick Richardson a breather because he has played quite a lot of games and with Lee Bullock suspended next week we have got to try and keep one or two fresh.

"It also gave Alex Mathie and Peter Duffield an opportunity to have longer.

"They have both been out a long time so it has been a case of bringing them back gradually."

Dolan refused to be critical of Graham Potter, who continued City's run of spot-kick misery this season when his 39th minute effort was well-saved by Rochdale keeper Matthew Gilks.

"Graham put the penalty right in the corner and the keeper just guessed the right way, that' s how it goes," said Dolan.

Clive Platt's red card last night, brandished for a late tackle on City's Darren Edmondson, means the Rochdale striker will miss the return clash between the two sides in a fortnight's time.

Platt will serve a three-match suspension as a result of his sending off, starting on February 5 when City are the visitors to Spotland.

Updated: 08:54 Wednesday, January 23, 2002