York City boss Terry Dolan is out to follow the leader. Ahead of tonight's game with Division Three title favourites Hartlepool United (5.35pm), Dolan has hailed Mike Newell's team as an example for others to emulate.

But while lavish in his praise for tonight's visitors to Bootham Crescent, the City chief is adamant his side will not stand on ceremony.

"They are a very, very good team and it will test us to the hilt to get something from the game but it is a great challenge and it something we are all looking forward to," said Dolan.

"They are not ten points clear through luck. They are organised, have good players and work very hard for each other

"That is the basis of a good team and it is something we are trying to achieve here.

"As a club, Hartlepool are a tremendous example to everyone else in this division because they have been there or thereabouts for the last few years and, barring a disaster, they are finally going to get up now.

"We have gradually been improving and we want to follow that example."

Despite praising United, Dolan reckons the Minstermen have the ability to take three points tonight and will take heart from their scoreless stalemate at Victoria Park earlier in the season.

City were the better team back in November and would have claimed all three points only for a Peter Duffield strike to be disallowed for a foul.

"The players know we could have won that game," said Dolan

"The conditions were difficult but we stopped Hartlepool from playing and we know come tonight we will have to do the same."

The City chief admitted the four point haul from City's last two outings, away at Leyton Orient and Shrewsbury Town, had reinforced his belief the Minstermen are genuine promotion contenders.

"People think we have dropped two places," he reasoned. I don't see it like that. We are a point closer to third place and if other teams around us move closer as well there is nothing I can do about that.

"We have still to play a lot of the teams around us and it is going to be chop and change throughout the next four or five weeks.

"We have not said much recently but we do feel now we are in a very good challenging position."

A virtual clean bill of health in the City squad - Darren Edmondson, Stephen Brackstone and Gary Hobson are all making progress on the sidelines - was another cause for optimism.

"Those in the team want to stay there and those that aren't are dying to get in," admitted the City boss.

"Everybody wants to be part of it when the team is doing well and the spirit in the camp is as strong as it has ever been."

Dolan also goes in tonight's game knowing it should not be their last despite the current cash chaos surrounding the club. News that a mystery benefactor has chipped in money to provide City with more time to find a buyer will further boost morale.

Tonight's squads

York City

(probable) Ingham, Cooper, Smith, Brass, Jones, Cowan, Potter, Bullock, Nogan, Shandran, Parkin.

Subs, from: Collinson, Fox, Wood, Wise, Mathie, Wilding.

Hartlepool United

A Williams, Barron, Westwood, Lee, Robinson, Clarke, Widdrington, Tinkler, Humphreys, E Williams, Richardson

Subs, from: Provett, Boyd, Arnison, Sweeney, Easter, Henderson

Referee: Steve Baines (Chesterfield)

Kick off: 5.35pm

Match points

City v Hartlepool

United have made 46 previous league visits to York. In the series City have won 26 times with 12 draws and scored 91 goals to 41.

Their biggest success over 'Pool at Bootham Crescent was 5-0 in 1953/54.

Other big wins were recorded in 1947/48, 1948/49, 1960/61 and 1970/71 when on each occasion the scoreline read 4-0 and in 1982/83 when City triumphed 5-1.

United's biggest victory at York was 4-1 in 1946/47 whilst the last of their eight successes here was 3-2 in 1988/89.

City won the corresponding game last season 1-0 with Lee Nogan on target. The match was played a year ago and City lined up on February 16, 2002 as follows: Fettis, Edmondson, Hocking, Basham, Parkin, Potter, Brass, Richardson, Proctor, Duffield (Mathie), Nogan (Bullock). The victory lifted City up to 21st in the table with the following record: P31 W9, D8, L14, F37, A52, Pts 32.

Along with Mark Tinkler and Paul Stephenson, other players to have represented both clubs include Eddie Blackburn, Keith Houchen, Jon McCarthy, Tony Barratt, Paul Baker and Kevin Dixon.

Updated: 09:37 Saturday, February 15, 2003