Selby Town midfielder Christian Fox still believes his side can take the Northern Counties East League premier division title despite the Robins’ derby defeat to Pickering Town.

The defeat meant the club slipped to fourth in the table behind Nottinghamshire side Arnold Town. Their crunch match with them on Tuesday night was postponed.

But Saturday’s result has not dented the ex-York City ace’s confidence.

He declared: “I definitely think we can win it (the league). We’re fourth now and there are a few teams in and around us but we’ve got a game in hand, so if we can win that then we’ll go level on points (with Pickering and Arnold Town).”

The Robins were edged out 3-2 at the Recreation Ground after a calamitous start in which they fell two goals behind inside the first six minutes. They replied early in the second half only to fall 3-1 down minutes later and, although they pulled a goal back with 20 minutes left to play, were unable to find a way back. Fox though believes his side deserved more from the game.

He said: “We should have at least got a draw. I thought we were very unlucky. The last 20 minutes we were pushing forward and playing inside Pickering’s half but we just couldn’t find that telling pass.”

The 27-year-old believes the Robins should be encouraged by the performance and thinks the team has improved during his stint at the club.

“The players can take heart,” he said. “I think we played well and this is the best squad we’ve had since I’ve been here.”

Fox, in his third season with the Robins, has found the net eight times in competitive matches, a total he is looking to improve. “I usually like ten before Christmas but we only had two games in December which hasn’t helped,” explained Fox.

“I usually set a target of double figures at the start of the season. I’m playing on the left wing at the moment, so I think that’s a good target.”

Fox joined Selby after non-league spells with Harrogate Town and AFC Emley, which came after his release by York City four years ago. And the midfielder is concerned about the Minstermen’s current position in the Blue Square Premier.

He said: “I don’t have the chance to see many games now but I went to see them a few weeks back (against Grays Athletic) and they lost to a team who hadn’t won away all season. They looked poor.”

However, he does think they have the resources to reverse their recent plight. “They’ve still got enough quality to get out of it,” he added. “They’ve got a new manager so it will take a while for him to get them playing the way he wants them to.”

Selby now face a busy next few weeks, with several mid-week fixtures. Two away games in a row now follow – they travel to Hallam today followed by a trip to mid-table Maltby Main on Wednesday.