THERE is a saying in football about what goes around comes around and this could not be more true for York City chief Terry Dolan.

After seeing his side snatch three vital points against Southend, Dolan admitted his side were a little bit fortunate.

But the Minstermen boss feels the result levels the score after his side lost to Luton after dominating that match.

"We've got three points which is the most important thing. I suppose it was a reverse of the Luton game, it was end-to-end, but whereas we deserved to win against Luton and didn't, we rode our luck today," he said.

"They had a couple of chances in the second half to certainly at least equalise, but we got away with.

"I'm delighted for the players, as lot of people have been talking about the last couple of weeks saying it is all doom and gloom, but sometimes people don't know what they are talking about.

"We have got a lot of young players in the team at the moment and they are going to make mistakes, but if we can keep getting results like that and the three points they and going to learn very quickly.

"There has never been a question about the spirit in the side. Southend came he ninth in the league, but now we are now level on points with them so we can't be doing that badly."

Dolan was also full of praise for keeper Alan Fettis, who made a number of crucial saves to ensure the points.

"Maybe it is because Russell (Howarth, the reserve keeper) is playing so well that it is keeping Alan on his toes!" he said. "Alan has did his job excellently.

"He had an inexperienced back four in front of him and was up against two quick strikers."

But despite seeing Fettis step in to spare the blushes of his defence, Dolan refuses to criticise his back-line

"We've got Chris Smith, Neville Stamp, Mark Maley and Mattie Hocking as a back four and they haven't got a lot of experience playing alongside one another," he said. "We had no alternatives, but we got away with it so I'm delighted.

"You need more than two days to build up an understanding and to work on things like this as a back four unit."

Worringly for City though is although they did pick up three points, they face a few more problems on the injury front.

Richard Cooper and Lee Nogan both hobbled off, while hocking was carrying a knock from training.

However, Dolan is hopeful the injuries won't stop the three playing tomorrow night against Kidderminster.

"Richard Cooper came off with a bang on his calf, but hopefully that will be okay, while Matt Hocking was only 60 per cent fit after picking up a bang in training," he said.

"Lee Nogan came off with a bang on his calf and a bang on his knee, which he has tweak.

"All we can do is gather everybody up and see how they are.

"We've just been unfortunate that are most experienced players have been out."

Nick Richardson also has a viral infection, while Graham Potter and Darren Edmondson are still out, but promisingly Hobson did return for three minutes of injury time against Southend.

Mike Basham will also be available after serving his one-match suspension.

Updated: 09:13 Monday, October 22, 2001