SELF-BELIEF holds the key to a swift turnaround in fortunes according to York City number one Alan Fettis.

Saturday's 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Brighton was York's third reverse in a row and leaves the Minstermen just two points off the bottom of Division Three.

But Fettis, the Minnstermen's man of the match, insists a dejected York haven't got time to lick their wounds and have got to look to change their fortunes at Hartlepool's Victoria Stadium tomorrow.

"There is no point in feeling sorry for ourselves thinking next week it might come right," said the Northern Ireland international.

"We have got to make sure it comes right.

"There are no individuals here. I think we have a good team and there is certainly a good spirit here, but we have just got to believe in ourselves much more.

"I think we are as good as any team we have played and no team has steam-rollered us.

"We just need that spark - it might just be a win or a goal - but we proved to be a decent side with that little run when we went unbeaten for five games

"To lose the next three games has obviously hit our confidence but we just need to keep working hard to turn things around."

Fettis insisted he took no consolation from his own fine form as York continue to struggle.

"I don't think I am in good form because I am letting in goals," he said.

"It is my fault as much as anyone's but it is hard at the moment.

"We are working hard but we are not getting the rub of the green.

"It is clichs and it is the same old story, but the luck is not on our side.

"We created a couple of good chances against Brighton and I was sure Scott Jordan was going to score because he is such a good finisher but their goalkeeper has produced a good save.

"At 1-1 the pressure would have been on them and we were looking the better side in stages but when you create chances you have to take them."

Hartlepool boss Chris Turner has moved swiftly to bolster his defence's soft centre by bringing in Middlesbrough centre-half Steven Baker on loan for a month.

Baker, 22, who has also had spells on loan at both Huddersfield and Darlington, will come straight into the side at the expense of James Sharp, a summer acquisition from non-league Andover Town.

The Pool have thrown away a two-goal cushion in each of their last two games to finish with just one-point from a possible six and Turner, racked by injuries, has moved quickly to try and stem the flow of goals conceded.

Last week, Hartlepool, who have yet to win at home this season, were 3-1 up against Mansfield with just eight minutes to go before the Stags launched a stirring fightback to run out winners 4-3.

Seven days earlier, Pool were 2-0 to the good against Macclesfield only for the Silkmen to grab two late goals at the death and take a share of the spoils.

Turner has not been helped by a string of injuries that has ruled out his two first choice centre-halves, skipper Micky Barron (knee) and Graeme Lee (cruciate ligament).

Barry Ferguson, brought in on loan from Coventry City as cover, has also been ruled out with an ankle injury.

Pools' injury woes continue with first choice keeper Martin Hollund ruled out with a groin strain and midfielder Lee Fitzpatrick still out after suffering an infection in a leg injury.

Ex-City winger Paul Stephenson, crowned Hartlepool's player of the year last season after switching to the centre of midfield, will be out to put one over on his former club while midfielder Paul Arnison will be out to prove a point.

Arnison spent a short time on trial at Bootham Crescent at the back end of last season after being released by Newcastle United but failed to impress.

York City v Hartlepool

Nationwide League Division Three

at Victoria Stadium tomorrow 3pm

York City

Possible: Alan Fettis, Barry Jones, Matt Hocking, Mark Sertori, Wayne Hall, Darren Edmondson, Steve Agnew, Scott Jordan, Lee Bullock, Alex Mathie, David McNiven

Subs (from): Russ Howarth, Graham Potter, Marc Thompson, Colin Alcide, John Williams, Martin Reed

Injury news: Peter Duffield (broken leg), Peter Swan (knee), Christian Fox (hamstring), Chris Fairclough (calf), Gary Hobson (knee), Kevin Hulme (hamstring)

Hartlepool

Probable: Anthony Williams, Gary Strodder, Steven Baker, Chris Westwood, Darren Knowles, Sam Shilton, tommy Miller, Paul Stephenson, Paul Arnison, Tony Lormor, Kevin Henderson

Subs (from): Chris Porter, Craig Midgley, Rory Barker, Tim Sperrevik, James Sharp

Injury news: Micky Barron (knee), Graeme Lee (cruciate ligament), Barry Ferguson (ankle), Thomas Tennebo (broken leg), Mark Hollund (groin)

Referee: Mark Cowburn (Blackpool)

Match Facts

Last season's 2-1 Boxing Day defeat ended a run of fiver successive League wins for City at the Victoria Stadium. Barry Conlon netted the consolation goal.

City have made 44 League trips to this venue winning 11 times, drawing nine. City's biggest win was 5-1 in 1958-59 when Peter Wragg scored a hat-trick, the biggest defeat was 7-2 in 1931-32

How to get to the Victoria Stadium

By Car: Follow signs to Thirsk A19. Junction A179 branch left to Hartlepool and at crossroads turn right. Junction A1048 take third exit on roundabout and at next roundabout in 0.5 miles third exit into Middleton Road. In 0.2 miles turn left into Clarence Road - ground on right.

By Train: Out - York dep 12.23, Hartlepool arr 14.02.

Return - Hartlepool dep 18.03, Thornaby arr 18.27; Thornaby dep 18.43, Darlington arr 19.05; Darlington dep 19.29, York arr 19.58.

Players to have appeared for both clubs include Eddie Blackburn, Keith Houchen, John MacPhail, Tony Barratt and Jon McCarthy. Managerial links include John Bird, Alan Little and Viv Busby.