INTERNATIONAL barriers are looking to be broken tomorrow as York City go head to head with First Division Grimsby Town in the FA Cup third round.

While City's Northern Ireland international Alan Fettis will be barring the Mariners' route to goal, at the opposite end City's strikers will have Grimsby's highly-rated Welsh international Danny Coyne in their sights.

The former Tranmere Rovers shot-stopper is a big crowd favourite at Blundell Park and was coveted by a number of Premiership clubs last year, most notably Aston Villa.

Fettis admits he has little first-hand knowledge of Coyne, but has heard glowing reports about the 28-year-old.

"He is rated very highly and seems to have done very well since he left Tranmere.

"I've seen him a few times and heard some good things about him but he is an international so you would expect that."

Fettis is hopeful tomorrow's match can prove the catalyst for a better 2002 after a largely miserable 2001 for City.

"What we are doing in the League is just not good enough and we really need to put that right. Once we do that confidence will rise.

"Let's hope the New Year brings some new results.

"We seem to save some of our best performances for the Cup and we had a good run last year and took Leicester close.

"I know they beat us 3-0 in the end but we had a couple of chances to go 1-0 or 2-0 up.

"But it is still going to be very difficult against Grimsby.

"They have got a new manager and have enjoyed two very good results.

"We will just have to give it our best shot.

"It is a one off game and we have to give it a good go."

Symptomatic of City's fall down the table has been the form of City's number one.

With the City rearguard increasingly tested, it is no coincidence that Fettis, as the last line of defence, has started to climb the Evening Press player of the year rankings.

While pleased to be taking the plaudits, Fettis admits he would prefer to be less busy.

"The defence has been chopping and changing because of injuries and what have you," he said.

"It doesn't help. Goals are going in and you try to put your finger on what the problem is.

"I think it's important to have a settled team, back-four and goalkeeper because that does help.

"We haven't had that this season and I think it has shown in the first half of the season.

"We got a decent result on Saturday so let's hope that is the first step in the right direction."

Updated: 12:08 Friday, January 04, 2002