Son of Eric watched Hereford defeat Gloucester 2-1 at Edgar Street last night. Here are his thoughts on the game.
Pushing for a play off position it was hail to the chief with Krystian Pearce returning to the defence replacing the impressive Jamie Egan who dropped to the bench. Captain Hodgkiss returned at right back with Gillella a substitute, Pollock and Revan completing the left half of the defence with Hall in goal.
Gowling has found a better structure with dynamic defensive duo Lloyd and Vincent guarding the rear allowing Kouhyar, Owen-Evans and McLean to provide the ammunition for Gordon. Gloucester featured former Bulls Leadbitter at right back, O’Sullivan in the middle of the park and taking most dead balls, and former loanee Ollie Hulbert playing just off veteran striker Matt Green making his debut up front for City.
1,790 braved a cold, dry, still night with an immaculate pitch for mid-winter Hereford started brightly but when Gloucester broke down the left the Bulls were exposed. The ball was worked down the left to Green who outmuscled Lloyd and found Hulbert on the edge of the box in space. As he pulled the trigger Vincent appeared out of nowhere for a lunging block, a demonstration of the outstanding form Jamie is showing at present.
Gordon chased down a long ball and pulled back to TOE who shot over the bar. Kouhyar broke down the right and heading towards the box his shirt was pulled and he stumbled over when clear and ready to cross. Referee Pratt waved game on but as for much of the evening he was too far away, clinging to running his diagonal rather than adapting to play. He then gave a similar challenge as a foul to Green. From the free kick on the left edge of the box O’Sullivan whistled it just wide of the top left corner.
A veteran fan had looked at the Grimsby fan sites to assess Sebastian Revan, and the consensus was that he was a quality player but not yet ready for men’s football. Another interpretation could be that Paul Hurst as manager of the Codheads did not set up to get the best out of the young man, as they fade out of the National League promotion race despite having one of the best budgets and some of the largest crowds in the division. Grimbarian Gowling has assigned Lloyd to act as a minder so that when the full back pushes forward Ryan drops in to cover allowing Revan to rampage. Throughout the game he was a constant menace rightly winning man of the match. He surges forward like a sports car, with smooth acceleration, gripping close control and balance with game intelligence beyond his years. Seb reminded me of young Tom Barkhuizen and can go on and have a similarly successful career. If you have not seen him in the flesh, come on down to Edgar Street, he will make a memory or two for you.
Kouhyar as so often found space with ease and another long perfect pass in behind the full back allowed Revan to race on to the ball on the left. Before the Gloucester defence could organise themselves, he put in a crisp cross, curling in behind the centre backs inviting centre forward Gordon to head down hard and the ball bounced up and into the top netting. Cross of the season so far. Is there a term for a headed tap in? Whatever it is that’s what Revan created for the Bulls to take the lead.
Gloucester did not learn and Owen-Evans and Kouhyar combined to set up Revan racing into the left corner of the box and his shot was tipped over by Cole for a corner. Gloucester tried to get to grips with Hereford’s movement with some fouls and a late challenge on Pearce by Dawson saw him booked. McLean had been relatively quiet, but he caught out Leadbitter pressing high up the pitch. He ran to the by-line and as he went towards the box looked up and pulled back an inviting ball to Tom on the edge of the box. Owen-Evans is in fine form and struck the ball hard across keeper Cole giving hm no chance so that the Bulls went in two up.
Gloucester were sent out early by their manager and made more of a fist of the game in the second half as Hereford tired a little with their third game in a week. Kouhyar was showing his fast feet and although his dead balls were not quite to his high standards, he was Hereford’s most creative player. He made space down the right and into the box he was taken down and referee Pratt was again too far away from the challenge to see that a penalty was warranted. Gloucester brought on Sheaf for King who had made a limited contribution. Hereford replaced McLean with Storey.
There was then a manic minute with Owen-Evans having a shot well saved by Cole, Revan followed up, but his shot was blocked and with the third attempt Gordon pulled his shot wide when he should have hit the target from within the box. Gowling promptly took Jaanai off and brought Touray on for his home debut. Hereford were regularly working Revan into their attacks, and he beat two players on the left before shooting and working Cole in the goal. O’Sullivan taking most of Gloucester’s dead balls clipped a cross into Mensah who shot but Pollock blocked it. The ball was not cleared, and another free kick was conceded. Hereford were tiring and giving Gloucester chances to get back into the game.
Another free kick saw Green shoot just over the bar and City were building up a head of steam. Vincent had been the best midfielder on the park with much fine defensive work, but also quick use of the ball to get attacks going. He picked up a strain and Forsyth came on. Gloucester got another free kick on the right and O’Sullivan curled in a ball behind the line of defenders who pushed up for offside but did not get the timing right allowing unmarked Green to stab home an easy opportunity.
Gloucester now scented the chance to get something out of the game and Hereford were hanging on a little. Sheaf had a shot well saved by Hall and fortunately Hulbert did not make the most of the rebound. Hereford broke away through Owen-Evans on the right and he beat the full back looked up and saw Storey had burst a lung to get up to the far post. Tom swung over an excellent high ball which was dropping for Miles rising ready to nod in. Cole sprung superbly and finger tipped the ball away from Storey’s head, quality goalkeeping.
Storey got clear down the right and Touray was yards offside. Storey saw this and held up waiting for Touray to realise but the new striker was oblivious. He waited again and still Touray did not check back to get onside. This was a shocking lack of awareness from a professional who seemed more concerned as to why he had not received a pass. Storey stopped and pulled back a deeper ball, but Touray’s misjudgement had allowed Gloucester to get back and reorganise. The new striker looked good at Farsley, but this was a disappointing cameo. Storey had his usual chance where his pace gets him clear, but he fails to work the keeper and his conversion rate is frustrating when his talent and ability is clear.
Gloucester brought on Thompson for Robert as four minutes were added. Hereford gradually faded through the match and had patches of their recent form but were a little way short. However, they are finally scoring when they are on top and Revan is an outstanding creative force, a full back in the Cancelo or Alexander-Arnold mould. Owen-Evans had yet another good game and must be catching the eye of scouts. A good side wins when they are not playing at their best.
However, one of the best players on the pitch was veteran striker Matt Green brought in to keep Gloucester up. He was a handful all night long and when he realised, he could take advantage of a weak referee he was swinging arms and physically challenging like Mike Symons of old and fully deserved his goal. Green would be more expensive than Touray who was poor in comparison.
In the Premiership teams like Manchester City, Wolves and Liverpool which have taken a strong line on Covid and vaccinations are doing better than those like Arsenal and Chelsea which have taken a more relaxed laissez-faire approach.
It is deeply regrettable that Hereford
had a widespread Covid outbreak before Xmas when they were in form and
lost tens of thousands of pounds of revenue from the Christmas games. If
they had that bit of extra budget to get a player like Green, it may be
the difference at the end of the season between making the play offs or
not.