While comments such as "That was the worst game I've ever seen" from some quarters following the 1-0 win against Guiseley on Saturday must be taken with a pinch of salt given the number of other contenders in that category over the years, they're not exactly indicative of a club that's flying either.
One good thing about the general post-match reaction was that supporters, coaching staff and players all spoke with one voice about the direness of it all, with Tom Owen Evans' comments again displaying a welcome degree of honesty and integrity.
It could be a good thing that Hereford FC are quickly back in action on the Edgar Street turf tonight (kick off 7:45pm) as they entertain Brackley Town in a match that was initially postponed due to Brackley’s FA Trophy activities, and then Storm Gareth's visit. It at least gives the players the opportunity to prove that the Guiseley match was something of a blip.
All will be hoping that in plumbing the depths against Guiseley, that performance is 'out of the way', because a repeat tonight will almost certainly result in a total stuffing from a club a good deal smaller than Hereford. However, that club, current holders of the FA Trophy, are extremely well run, and in currently winning week after week they're cementing a play-off place again this season, repeating last year's achievement, and you'd be a brave punter to bet against them getting promoted.
While the two recent Bulls wins have been very welcome in staving off the threat of relegation, the first-half defending against Darlington and the overall play against Guiseley were way below the required standard, and anything similar from the hosts tonight
will be punished by a very strong Brackley side, featuring 20-goal man Lee Ndlovu, and it’s unlikely that they’ll
be anything like as charitable as Darlington were at the back.
The
Saints are familiar
opponents this season, with the sides having met twice already, and in
both
games there was really ever going to be one winner, and it wasn’t
Hereford. Tonight's visitors have won their last five league matches, and only narrowly lost to Orient in the Trophy recently.
So
this one’s going to be
tricky, although unlike recent matches the opposition will be expecting
to win
and attack accordingly, which could leave space to exploit if the Bulls
can get
behind them, assuming that at least a few players are employed in advanced positions to do so. After all, If
a 4-5-1 formation was deemed appropriate against Guiseley, it's
seemingly unlikely that anything more adventurous will be tried against
Brackley.
Also, having been comfortably beaten twice by tonight's visitors already, there’s surely some motivation there for the home side to exact a degree of revenge, not to mention the fact that a third win on the bounce would put Hereford on 45 points, which is looking like a reasonable yardstick for avoiding the drop.
Also, having been comfortably beaten twice by tonight's visitors already, there’s surely some motivation there for the home side to exact a degree of revenge, not to mention the fact that a third win on the bounce would put Hereford on 45 points, which is looking like a reasonable yardstick for avoiding the drop.
With no-one covering themselves in glory at the weekend, it'll be interesting to see whether Marc Richards gives the same starting XI the chance to redeem themselves or rings the changes in a bid to engender some improvement. Options are slightly limited though, with Keiran Tomas still suspended and the James Waite wait seemingly ongoing. Perhaps Lance Smith could be given a start up front, and Cameron Ebbutt is still waiting for a chance to show what he can do. New signing Louis Ezewele could also come into the reckoning at the back.
Undoubtedly Ndlovu and his fellow attackers will give the defence a busy night, and Jak Hickman will presumably be given plenty of opportunity to reinforce the notion from Saturday that he may be a useful asset for the rest of the season, while on the other side of the pitch Danny Greenslade will need to step up to the task in his core left-back duties in the same way that he often does in more attacking areas of the pitch.
Undoubtedly Ndlovu and his fellow attackers will give the defence a busy night, and Jak Hickman will presumably be given plenty of opportunity to reinforce the notion from Saturday that he may be a useful asset for the rest of the season, while on the other side of the pitch Danny Greenslade will need to step up to the task in his core left-back duties in the same way that he often does in more attacking areas of the pitch.
This
will be a far stiffer test than any of the last ten matches, which in all honesty Hereford generally haven't excelled in, and the players will have to concentrate for 90+ minutes. However, tonight’s opponents are
the sort
of team the Bulls will need to be competitive against if they’re to
feature at
the right end of the table next season, so if it is evident that there's a gulf in class, the board will at least have it clearly demonstrated to them that they're in for a busy summer of reappraisal and rebuilding in all areas.
It's a bit depressing taking such an underdog's mindset into matches like this, and it's a clear indication that the upward trajectory of the flight of the phoenix has stuttered, with gravity waiting to do its thing. So, thinking positively, let's somehow win this and continue the exciting push towards mid-table obscurity.
It's a bit depressing taking such an underdog's mindset into matches like this, and it's a clear indication that the upward trajectory of the flight of the phoenix has stuttered, with gravity waiting to do its thing. So, thinking positively, let's somehow win this and continue the exciting push towards mid-table obscurity.
COYW