YORK City might have dropped down to ninth in the Division Three table but striker Jon Parkin reckons automatic promotion is not out of the question.

The Minstermen fell out of the play-off places following Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Rushden & Diamonds, but they go into tonight's match at arch-rivals Darlington (kick off 7.30pm) still only two points off a play-off place and just three away from third.

In fact, just four points separates third place from 11th, yet Parkin reckons City can come out on top of what is a thrilling promotion race.

"I don't see any reason why we can't get into the top three," he told the Evening Press. "We've got a couple of teams to play who are round about us, if we win those games - they are six-pointers - we'll be right in it.

"We had a really bad result on Saturday so we need to get back to winning ways. But there's nobody we're scared of."

Parkin scored the only goal of the game when City entertained the Quakers earlier in the season, and naturally he is wanting more of the same. He is also happy with the way his partnership with Anthony Shandran - whose loan spell from Burnley has been extended - is developing.

"The more games we're playing together the better it is getting," said the nine-goal hitman, who has become City's top scorer this season since Peter Duffield left for Boston.

"He's getting his fitness and hopefully we can score more goals for the club. I think we do all right as a partnership and it will improve the more we play together."

Midfielder Lee Bullock got City's goal at Rushden and Parkin said strikes from elsewhere on the park always help the forwards.

"It's our job to score goals but it does help if a few defenders or midfielders can pop up. It takes a bit of pressure off us."

Manager Terry Dolan said he was also happy with his strike duo. "They're starting to get an understanding, which does not happen overnight," he said.

"He (Shandran) has only played two or three reserve games all season (before coming to York). His first month you could class as a bedding-in period so both myself and the player are looking for him to start showing improvement."

It is a big night in the Third Division as clubs gather themselves for the end-of-season run-in.

Victory at Feethams could well propel City back in to the promotion frame.

They will be looking for leaders Hartlepool to win at Lincoln, who are a place below City with a game in hand. Top match of the night will be at Rushden, where City lost 2-1 on Saturday. The Diamonds, tucked in second spot behind Hartlepool, tackle third placed-Bournemouth.

Bury will fancy their chances of beating struggling Bristol Rovers at Gigg Lane, while Oxford, who have games in hands on most clubs in the promotion hunt, entertain Leyton Orient.

City today confirmed that defender Scott Jones will miss the home clash with Bournemouth on March 15 after collecting his fifth booking of the season at Rushden on Saturday.

Updated: 11:27 Tuesday, March 04, 2003