.png)
Mansfield boss Paul Holland was upbeat about his new charges despite the defeat tonight, telling local newspaper The Chad:
"I was delighted with the performance. They did everything I asked of them and it was probably some of our best football of the season. I just told them to go out there and express themselves.
"We conceded to a dubious free kick but showed a lot of character after that. Hereford are a very good team and I thought that was a great advert for League Two football. I tried to relax them and take some of the fear away, though I didn't do anything different to Billy (Dearden).
"I asked them to go and put on a performance for Billy and they half did that. We got the performance, but not the win. I have heard some of the fans saying I am overweight and not the man for the job, but we will let the powers that be decide that. I know the lads in the dressing room are backing me.
"If we can play like that for the last 11 games we will be fine."