Yellow cards cause concern for Turner
Hereford United boss Graham Turner has warned his players about the number of bookings that they are receiving ahead of tomorrow's match against Stevenage Borough.
Michael Rose picked up his third yellow card of the season against Aldershot Town on Monday, and Turner said: "With a small squad of players, we can't afford too many injuries and the one concern for me at the moment is the prospect of suspensions. We have had too many bookings for my liking. After five bookings they get automatically suspended so we are hoping that it won't happen that by the middle of September we start to get players suspended.
"We know from experience that referees do tend to be a lot stricter early in the season after directives from the FA. They punish almost every foul even with a yellow card, we realise that, but there is still far too many cards issued to our players than I would have liked."
Looking ahead to tomorrow's battle at Broadhall Way, Turner is quietly upbeat about his side's chances.
"Stevenage are a well fancied side," he told BBC Hereford & Worcester. "They are amongst the favourites to win the Conference this season simply because of the amount of money they have invested. They have got a big strong squad of players but we can look forward to the game with a lot of confidence and I think we will be really ready for it. We are quite capable of going to Stevenage and getting another three points."
"I don't think there is any real reason to change a winning side. I think we have started the season well. I think some of the performances have been excellent and there is no reason to chop and change the side. David Brown was unfortunate not to start the season off because of injury. He has proved to be on several occasions a good substitute. He will be wanting to start as soon as possible but Steve Guinan and Rob Purdie have played exceptionally well together and I don't think at this stage there is any need to change that partnership."
The time lapse before the next home fixture has annoyed Turner, although recent gates have been very impressive. "The level of attendance has been very encouraging. To get two games around the three thousand mark and then one nearly five thousand that's an incredible turnout and it just shows that there is floating support there that will come along if the team are doing well enough. However the most important thing is the spirit within the team. When you get a few results go right for you, that spirit is lifted and that is what we are experiencing at the moment.
After the biggest ever Conference gate at Edgar Street, TUrner added that nearly three weeks is too long to wait for the next home game.
"I think the fixtures has panned out diabolically really. When you look at the first five Saturdays of the season, we have had one at home. I can't figure out how the Conference can come up with that fixture list.
"We will now have almost three weeks without a home fixture just when you want one. The spectical of Monday's game with the big attendance means we want to be at home again.
"Nearly three weeks without a home game is ludicrous."