Text at top (next game etc)

Next Game: Home Against Kidderminster In The League On Boxing Day 26th December At 1.00pm

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Preview: Bulls vs Darlington

The Bulls entertain Darlington in a League Two match at Edgar Street on Saturday.

This year is the 19th the two sides have shared the same division, with the Quakers holding a 14-10 advantage in wins. The Bulls are two matches unbeaten in the sequence of games after winning both matches in the 2007/8 season. Gary Hooper's goal beat a Darlington side featuring Ryan Valentine in April 2008, after the Bulls strolled to a 5-1 win at Edgar Street the previous November with five different scorers.

The Bulls' home form is stopping them from being in the bottom two, and few will predict anything other than a home win on Saturday - but the Bulls must be on their guard to ensure that they do not take the points for granted and see them slip through their fingers. The Bulls have been difficult to beat at Edgar Street, but have also found it hard to finish off sides at times when the three points looked on the cards. With James Walker gone, boss John Trewick will decide who to place up front with Craig King, Jonny Godsmark, Leon Constantine, and Lee Morris all available for a start.

Since naming Steve Staunton as boss he has brought in a string of new signings across the pitch in an attempt to reverse their epic slide since entering Administration in February. Gates have fallen by 35% on last season's average - the worst drop in the League - and they have scored just six goals in their League campaign - also the worst in the League. They seem destined to have a second stint in the Conference but upset Shrewsbury just two weeks ago and are not quite dead yet. They held off Barnet for a half last weekend before the errors returned and they had another second half crash - an event Staunton is determined to stop happening.

Hereford United vs Darlington, Edgar Street, Saturday 30th October, 3.00pm.