Downes taking responsibility and mulling changes after 'hurtful' sixth straight loss

Aaron Downes admitted Hereford’s sixth consecutive defeat was “hurtful” and challenged his players to rediscover their belief after another setback at Edgar Street.

The Bulls fell to a 2-0 loss against Macclesfield, with a set-piece once again proving costly, and Downes did not shy away from his own responsibility.

“It’s a frustrating one. That is a hurtful one because I didn't anticipate that,” he said post-match.

While the game remained goalless at the break, the Hereford boss felt the decisive moment came after the interval when his side conceded from a corner – an all-too-familiar theme and he's hinting at changes.

“I have to take responsibility,” he admitted. “I’ve got to look at our set-up, I've got to look at the way we're defending them and our attitude to defend them.

"We came in this afternoon an hour early to go through things on our pitch to try and give the players an edge and a bit more detail.

"But ultimately that’s two in two now that have let us down. It’s an accumulation of things and me, as a manager, I've got to take responsibility.

"I've got to look at the way that we set up, which I will do because it's a setup I believe in, but ultimately I've got to do what's right for the personnel we've got

"I might have to change my way of thinking. The players are trying their hardest so I've got to give them the best set-up to defend it."

Alongside the tactical concerns, Downes also questioned his side’s mentality after falling behind, admitting the reaction lacked the belief he demands.

“I don’t know if we had that belief after we went one-nil down,” he said. “That’s probably the most disappointing thing for me out of tonight.

He added: “I want us to have belief that we can come back from one-nil down, two-nil down, three-nil down.

"I want us to have belief and have that sort of consistency in that belief."

Hereford did create chances, with an effort striking the woodwork in each half, but Downes refused to hide behind misfortune.

“I'm not kicking myself," he told the press. "I'm not a victim. I’m not someone that's going to feel sorry for myself."

With results going against them and confidence clearly dented, the Bulls can still avoid relegation as despite being six points from safety, still have up to three games in hand on the sides above them in the table.

Downes added: "We've got to keep fighting and it's still in our hands. The end goal is still achievable and I've got to make sure that we turn around quickly.

"It's hurting all of us - supporters, players, staff, board - but the only way we're going to do it is together. 

"I've got to show strength now. I've got to show leadership in making sure that we're all doing the same thing."