Turner talks about Chester

Graham Turner has been talking to the Chester Standard about Saturday's game at Edgar Street.

"Chester had a terrific win against Darlington recently and they frustrated Peterborough where they created a number of late chances," said the Hereford United manager.

"I think Chester have a strong defence, and they have experienced players like Paul Butler and John Murphy in their side.

"But my biggest concern isn't how we beat Chester, it's how we perform and how we don't let nerves get the better of us."

Turner is well aware that the Bulls will have gone two weeks without a League Two match.

"It's always difficult to forecast how a team will react after such a long lay-off.

"We've missed competitive football for a long time, but I'll be looking for a lot of honesty from my players and plenty of effort.

"We'll more than make up for the absence of competitive football because we're now facing five games in 15 days which will tell me a lot about our chances of being promotion."

Turner watched Chester's game last Saturday which was abandoned after 60 minutes.

"It wasn't a totally wasted exercise because I still got an idea of Chester's pattern of play.

"I certainly didn't think Chester were any different than the side I had seen earlier in the season.

"They were playing a very good Stockport County side who are battling like Hereford for promotion.

"But I have been surprised to see Chester struggling in the second half of the season because when we met earlier in the season we were playing, like Chester, to go to the top of the league.

"Chester were a very good side at that stage of the season and I can't understand why their form has changed so much.

"Whether it's because Stephen Vaughan has stepped down from his post as chairman I don't know."

As regards possible promotion, Turner said that the Bulls are now very close to getting in the play-offs

"I don't think we're too far off from clinching a play-off place, but I thought 74 points would be enough.

"Mathematically we're not there yet because Stockport are still a big threat, but we have set our sights on achieving our goal of promotion.

"If we don't I would still consider that we have had a terrific league season with good runs in both the FA Cup and Carling Cup.

"And off the pitch it's been pleasing to see the club report a profit for the last four years, trade in the black for a fifth year, and manage to develop a young squad without any detrimental financial effect on the club."

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