Saturday's home defeat dropped Bradford Park Avenue into the bottom two of the Conference North making tonight's home clash with basement side Vauxhall Motors a real six-pointer.

The visitors are still looking for their first win of the new season. They trail Avenue by four points after losing six of their nine games and shipping 19 goals.

Avenue boss Carl Shutt has moved to strengthen his squad ahead of the game by landing a loan signing from Coca Cola League One side Stockport County.

Phil Reilly, a 19-year-old left-sided player, has initially penned a 33-day deal.

"He is a big lad, over six feet tall, and very fit. He can play in three positions - left centre back, left back or on that side of midfield," said Shutt.

He is not the only new face planned by Shutt, who is using his extensive contacts in the game to good effect. The Avenue boss still has a high profile in the full-time game after being a top professional.

"I know the Stockport chief scout Gill Prescott very well. My assistant Ian Ruscrow also knows him and Sammy McIlroy. They have done us a big favour because they are allowing us to play Phil in the FA Cup.

"That will be a major boost because it means we will feel the full benefit of his time with us.

"He is joining us for a month but we will see how he goes on because we can take him for longer if it works out.

"It could have been a bit awkward if Stockport didn't want him cup- tied. He would have been available tonight and Saturday but not for the Squires Gate game in the FA Cup the following week.

"If we get through that, the next round is a fortnight later and he would have been missing out again. All of which would have it made it far from ideal and not a good move for us financially. We would have had to pay his wages but not been able to play him every week.

"It would also have been unsettling for the team.

"We would have had to change it every time we had a game, whatever the result.

"I have been alerted to another couple of players by one of my other mates and there could be something happening on that.

"I have the chance of bringing a forward and a midfielder in from another club but no names yet," added Shutt, who was at a game this afternoon running the rule over the potential targets.

Strikers Steve Oleksewycz (calf) and Allan Pearce (virus) will both miss tonight's match while Gareth Clayton (back), Michael Naylor (knee) and Ben Jones (hamstring) will all undergo late fitness tests.

Bradford Park Avenue (from): Britton, Fells, Quinn, Cressey, Walsh, Jones, Crossley, Thompson, Jones, Colley, Smith, Brompton, Greaves, Helliwell, Lennon, Reilly, Clayton, Naylor.