'The players deserved that' - Downes hails Bulls as they end eight-game winless run

Aaron Skinner

“I can’t praise the players enough, they were excellent tonight" - that was Aaron Downes’ verdict after Hereford claimed a late 1-0 win over Darlington at Sixways in Worcester.

With the Edgar Street pitch unplayable, Hereford went to the home of the Warriors and Aaron Skinner’s 90th-minute penalty saw the Bulls end their eight-game winless streak in an otherwise tight and even contest.

For Downes, in the dugout little over 24 hours after being appointed as Paul Caddis's successor, he wanted to be able to "stamp my style and authority" on Hereford as they look to escape relegation.

“I’m not sure about that,” he smiled when it was suggested management might be easy after a winning start.

“It was definitely a nervy last couple of minutes, but I can’t praise the players enough. They were excellent tonight. They were excellent pre-match in regards to listening because, bless them, I’ve put a lot of information into them in a short space of time and they’ve had to try and compartmentalise that and then put it into action — and I thought they were superb tonight.

“One of the main things I really asked from them was the effort to show that we’re going to get after teams and put them under pressure, and I think every single one of them that was on that pitch was different class with regards to their effort, and their work rate and their intensity. They were brilliant.”

The National League North tie, which saw the 23rd-place Bulls take on play-off hopefuls Darlington, was finely balanced, and Downes admitted it had the feel of a stalemate before the late breakthrough.

“I’m not going to lie, it was a tight game. It was a very tight game. They [Darlington] had quite a few shots from distance and I thought Theo [Richardson] was very calm, very assured — really good game from him tonight. We had a couple of opportunities first half, so did they. It was heading towards a nil-nil draw really and we just needed something.

“Sometimes you need luck shining down on you, but I genuinely believe the players deserved that for the work and the effort and also the understanding and putting the game plan into action. They deserve the credit tonight.”

Downes, in the dugout alongside his assistant Harry Pell, also made a point of highlighting the supporters making the unusual trip to Sixways, who made their presence felt throughout — and especially during the tense closing stages.

“Excellent. Unbelievable support,” he said. “I’ve played at Hereford numerous times before as a player and felt that intensity and that real strong home support, but until you actually feel it from this side, it was superb. That last five or 10 minutes was excellent. They were superb all night, but once we got the goal and we’re hanging on, they were just excellent.

“It was a massive buzz for me and I can’t thank them enough. We’re going to need them. We are going to need them. Through thick and thin I’m sure they’ve been supporting the whole time, but they’re going to play a massive part.”