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| Gateshead's First Goal Of The Game |
Russell Slade spoke to the media after yesterday's 2-0 setback at Gateshead. In his interview he admiited that the club still hasn't got a striker who can score goals consistantly.
"I thought we were the better side first half," said the Hereford FC manager.
"I spoke to their manager and he thought we were the better said first half, certainly between the two boxes.
"The goal is very disappointing because it shouldn't have been a corner in the first place and they I think it's second, third phase and we've not picked and he's finished with an easy enough header to go in and give them an advantage at half-time.
"Second period, game has opened up a little bit. The two teams have had a lot of football recently and we were trying to get back in the game, obviously we did everything we could to try and get back in the game, I can't fault the effort of the players.
"Just disappointed with the second goal because it's almost like we stopped on it and Ben Pollock had done so well to slide in and get the interception in the first place.
"We didn't create enough chances for sure, we got into some really good areas in the final third, probably didn't find that cross or that shot or that slide to undo Gateshead this afternoon.
"There were some good things but it's the nitty-gritty in both ends of the pitch that count at the end of the day."
Is that the difference between being near the play-offs and where you find yourselves at the moment.
"Yes, totally. Most of those teams have probably got a striker that has maybe got 12/15 goals at this stage of the season, we haven't got that at the minute. We are trying to chip in from different areas.
"We can only keep on working, that's what it is. We'll keep working, we are in a period of transition as well. We are trying to turn not just results around but trying to improve the group as well as we go along so we become stronger and better as we move forward."
Slade has brought in keeper Will Henry as cover for Brandon Goal, who is unwell.
"He wasn't responsible for any of the goals today, his kicking was decent and he came and made a couple of very good punches. He was solid enough."
Having won on New Years Day was it disappointing that momentum had come to an end?
"Yes, it is. By and large our home form bar from the odd lapse has been fairly solid but away from home we've not got it together really, Leamington we got a good result and we drew one at Darlington but we need to stay in games and we made mistales and conceed an easy goal and we are being punished for that at times on our travels and that's something we need to address as quickly as we can."
Keiran Thomas came on with a knock in the second half.
"Hamstring I think, we're going to have a look at that for sure. I'm hoping it was a bit more cramp, a bit more tightening up, with all the games that we've had but it could be a bit worse."
Hereford don't play again until next Saturday.
"We're back to normal Tuesday, Thursday and no mid-week game and I think we need that right now becasuse I don't think we could quite find the energy that we fould, certainly, in the last game. We couldn't quite inject that into it and we weren't as potent and creative up front as we have been in the last game."
Is it now a case of making sure you don't get dragged into towards the bottom end of the table?
"Well the thing is with this league we're probably closer to the play-offs than anywhere near to the bottom. A couple of wins and you can in up and around it. That's why we're disappointed that we haven't got something out of the game going into the game at home against Bradford next week."