'We don't have time': Downes gives verdict on cruel and unfair derby defeat

David Davis' strike condemned Hereford to their seventh straight defeat

Aaron Downes said his side needed a point to stop the rot, but a cruel late goal condemned them to defeat at Kidderminster Harriers – insisting his side did not deserve to lose.

The Bulls looked set to claim a valuable point before conceding deep into stoppage time as David Davis' shot took two deflections before finding the back of the net, extending their losing run to seven matches despite a performance full of effort at Aggborough.

“We're not getting a lot of what we deserve at the minute,” Downes told the press post-match. “Unfortunately, it's a cruel game at times, and the boys didn't deserve that.

“They did everything we asked of them. They worked ever so hard, had a good shape about us. We’ve done everything we needed to do to get something out of the game.

“Whether we deserved to win it, I’m not sure, but we definitely didn’t deserve to lose.

"I'm proud of our players but we need to turn it around. That needs to be a draw and we can stop the rot and we can go into something else."

Hereford had battled back into the contest after falling behind, with Lawson D’Ath’s superb free-kick levelling the scores before the break.

And while Downes was full of praise for his side’s application, he made it clear that failing to see the game out is becoming a costly issue with his side not eight points from safety.

“Seeing those last couple of minutes out is the frustrating thing. Some people will learn from the game which is great that we're learning on the job, but we don't have the time for that.

"We've got to make sure we're clear, the boys are clear but we've got to make sure we're picking up points as soon as we can because that's unfair - but you don't always get what you deserve."

The defeat means Hereford are now on their worst run since 1997, but Downes insisted the focus must remain on turning performances into points.

He said: "The boys were excellent and they're doing everything they can, but we need to make sure that we're a little more stronger. We have to be because we need to see these games out now. Whether that's me, the players, the detail, we need something to change for us.

"I've just got to keep the players going. I said to them, don't let this define us because it's still in our hands and still got a chance for us to be a National League North team next season. 

"While there is, we've got to make sure we keep fighting so don't let this define us."

While the players are defiant and determined to turn things around, Downes said he won't accept players feeling sorry for themselves, or being negative - or he won't play them.

"I have to keep them bright, keep them vibrant," he added. "We've had a long and tough run, but we can't feel sorry for ourselves.

"We've got to make sure that after this we dust ourselves down, show the same energy that we showed in that game and I promise you things will turn around.

"That's what I'm telling them because it will, you can't keep playing like that and lose football matches, you can't."