The Bulls re-lock horns with Kidderminster Harriers as the
festive fixtures come to an end tomorrow, kick off 3pm at Edgar Street.
No points have been picked up so far over Christmas, but two
goals have at least been scored. Very early autumn has become mid-winter, a new
government has come into power, and ITV has broadcast something watchable since
Hereford’s last win. OK, I made that last one up, but this run is surely
getting close to record-breaking territory.
However, from now until the rest of the season this preview
slot is going to be positivity corner, because there’s little or no point continually
reflecting on how bad it was to lose 3-0 away to X team (whose playing budget
and turnover are a fraction of the Bulls’) last Saturday, and speculating about
how disappointing it’s going to feel to draw at home with X team (whose playing
budget and turnover are a fraction of the Bulls’) this Saturday.
So, with that in mind, Victor Sodeinde played well in the
home defeat to Leamington, and now, seemingly settled in after his brief
initial loan spell before injury, looks like he could contribute significantly to Hereford’s
battle against relegation. Thankfully, on that front, both Blyth and Bradford
lost on Saturday. The only concern is that the fixture log-jam at this time of year
can take a toll on young legs, as evidenced by his cramp against the Brakes. Perhaps
he can run Harriers ragged for an hour and then make way for Reece Styche to
take advantage of that raggedness for the final 30 minutes. That tag-team
scenario always seemed to work in the wrestling on World of Sport on Saturday
lunchtimes, hey older readers? For younger readers, this was a programme on ITV
where fat people mindlessly smashed into each other for an hour or so, in the
days when ITV was worth watching.
Anyway, Kidderminster, unfortunately, looked to be a
considerably better team than Hereford on Boxing Day. The match at Aggborough
wasn’t particularly evenly fought, and to put that gulf in class into
perspective Harriers are mid-table in a poor National League North year.
However, it could have just been a bad day at the office, and an improvement was
seen in the game against Leamington. At home the players do seem to have some bite, and with two troubled clubs occupying the two relegation places that bite could bring enough points in to earn another season in the division. Away matches just seem to be a lost cause.
I don’t know whether such a relatively well-remunerated
squad of players and management have ever been relegated from this division,
but obviously the players aren’t deliberately losing and are due a bit of luck,
and can only benefit from a collective coming together in the face of
adversity. I happen to think that the fans have generally been brilliant in
willing the team to come through this awful patch of form, and I've got a lovely feeling that another vocal
effort from the Meadow End and around the ground will suck a few goals in
against what is after all a pretty average Kiddy team. It’s probably time to just
get at the opposition like crazy all over the pitch and hope for the best. It
shouldn’t be remotely like that of course, it should be that Hereford comfortably outplay Kidderminster in a classy display, but needs must, and needs dictate that this has to be a full-on, pride-in-the-shirt, ugly-if-necessary performance. Oh, and the gifting of goals
to the opposition obviously needs to stop too.
A sub-2000 attendance would be unprecedentedly low for a New
Year’s Day local derby, but I wouldn’t necessarily bet against it. Here’s
hoping that those who stick with it and turn up will be cheering on a
wonderful, passionate, skillful performance and a long-awaited win.
A very happy new year to everyone: players, management, staff
and fans. It’s time to pull together and turn things around. 2019 has been a
bit trying. 2020 will be a better year all round.
COYW