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Next Game: Pre-Season

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Young Bulls Didn't Match Long Eaton's Levels Said Chance



Hereford's under-18s coach says it's disappointing to have been knocked out of the FA Youth Cup by Long Eaton United this evening.

Dan Chance said his side failed to match the levels of Long Eaton this evening, and that they need to look at they way they do things at training to correct it.

"Disappointing I think is a fair comment," said Chance.

"We knew what they were going to be like, they were fit, they were aggressive, they caused us problems. Perhaps tactically not that great a side, but we failed to match them really, I think we know that."

"The only positive we can take out of it is the players have recognised that, that they failed to match the levels that they came at us with tonight.

"Part of the problem is we try to give them different scenarios in training so they can understand how to break down problems, tonight we kept hammering away at the problems they were causing us with the same solution and it wasn't getting us anywhere.

"We were failing to change that so it's something we need to look at and they way we're training and explaining things, but also we need to look at how they react on the pitch and how they start looking to change things."

Unlike Hereford, Long Eaton's academy is full time meaning the squad train more than the Bulls.

They were an aggressive, well-drilled side according to Chance and caused them problems all evening.

"They're a full time academy, they train in the day, they're going to be fit," added Chance.

"They're going to be aggressive, they're going to be quick and they're going to be well-drilled - that's exactly what they were.

"In fairness we warned the boys that was going to be the case, perhaps haven't reacted to that or taken it on board as well as we should have.

"But you can't take anything away from them, they've caused us problems. Like I say they're aggressive and fit, they've kept at us all game. Every time we've got the ball they're looking to come and press and win that ball. 

"They were getting success out of it."

Some key players were on the bench this evening after being away from the squad last week. The players that had come in to replace them had earned their right to start this evening, but it'll be a back to the drawing board for Monday's league game at Evesham.

"Last week a couple of lads were away from the squad for a number of reasons, the lads that have come in have done really well. It's a case of if you do well you keep your shirt and that's what they did tonight.

"I think the lads justified starting tonight, but I we said to them, for all of them now, it's a clean sheet on Monday and see what we select from there."

Hereford did score in the second half to bring the score back to 2-1, although their goal took a deflection on it's way in.

Chance wasn't sure about the goal, but admitted it did looked to take a deflection.


"I don't have a clue. It looked like it was going in at the back post, it's hit someone, I'm sure someone in there now and say it was their goal. 

"I imagine it went in off someone, it looked like it hit the back of their defender and came back across."

It was a route-one ball for Long Eaton's third, but at 2-1 down with time almost up Hereford had to gamble.

"We've looked to play out into a central area, they've defended it with a ball into the air, we've dealt with that and the lad has hit it first time straight over top of the keeper who's where we want him to be.

"I think at 2-1 down we had to go for it a little bit and that inevitably came from us going for it."

But it's back to league action on Monday and it'll give the players a chance to correct their mistakes from this evening.

"We've just said to the lads, we've got training on Thursday and a game against Evesham on Monday. It's a real quick turn around for us luckily, they've got a chance to go out and correct everything and get back on track."