A look back to May 5th 2005 and the build up to the second play-off game between Hereford United and Stevenage.
Westley talks about the psychological advantage
Graham
Westley, the Stevenage manager, has once again been talking about he
believes his side hold the "psychological advantage" ahead of their
play-off semi-final second leg tomorrow (Friday) night.
"It was a big blow for them to concede a late equaliser," Westley told the Stevenage Herald.
"I feel we now hold the psychological advantage and I think Hereford will find it difficult to recover from that.
"I'm quietly confident but we won't underestimate them, that's for sure. They will have to come and attack us tomorrow.
"But we will concentrate on what we have to do. We remember the result back in August (Boro won 1-0 at Edgar Street)."
"There's no doubt I would sooner have won than drawn. But we got nothing when we played them at home in the league recently.
"Our lads performed well and I was happy with them. Physically, we looked the stronger side as the game wore on."
If the scores are tied after 90 minutes tomorrow, the game will go to extra-time and then penalties.
"I think we have to practice penalties and it would be foolish to ignore the possibility," added Westley.
Tie is finely balanced says Turner
Graham
Turner admits in his Hereford Times weekly column that the tie is finely
balanced and that his side could play better tomorrow.
"We
didn't pass the ball as well as we can. It might have been the occasion,
with players not wanting to make a mistake, but I would certainly have
liked us get the ball down and passed it a little more.
"The tie
is now finely balanced. We know what their attributes are, we beleive
that they cannot do anything different. And we can play better."
Turner
has prepared his side for penalties just in case. He has competent
penalty takers as was shown in the LDV games. However there is the hope
that, with the backing of the fans, the Bulls won't need to go to the
penalty stage.
"The atmosphere at Stevenage was terrific and
there is no doubt that the fans can play a big part in the way we
perform. Players make mistakes during a game and the younger ones, in
particular, need encouragement to get over those mistakes.
"Getting to the play-offs is a massive occasion for us. It's what supporting a football club is all about."
Fans can make the difference
John Trewick has asked fans to get behind the Bulls tomorrow just like the travelling supporters did at Stevenage last monday.
"The
travelling support at Stevenage was fanastic and I'm sure our fans will
make it very, very lively and noisy for Stevenage when they come to us.
"If
they can get behind us it's always worth that extra yard or that extra
little oppurtunity," Trewick, the Bulls coach, told the Hereford Times.
There
should be another great atmosphere at Edgar Street tomorrow with fans
being encouraged to turn out in white home shirts and, as at Stevenage,
bring flags, horns, balloons and make it a special occasion for the team
and Sky cameras.
Beech balls and confetti are also likely to be brought to the game to liven proceedings.
Trewick also spoke about how the game was nicely poised after the draw at Broadhall Way.
"We are in good spirits, and so looking forward to the game.
"We
need to be positive and go into it expecting to win in front of our
home supporters but it will not be easy. Stevenage are a hard-working,
organised, disclipined side with a lot of strength and we know what we
are going to be up against."
Meanwhile Graham Turner confirmed
that Lee Mills twisted his ankle on Monday and that Graham Hyde missed
the game because of a stomach bug.
"Hyde missed training yesterday but we expect him to be fit, while Mills is making steady progress," said Turner.