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Tough Game Tonight
Hereford United face Aldershot Town this evening at Edgar Street. This should be the best attended home match so far and there is every reason to expect that the atmosphere should also be the best this season to date.
Aldershot are in fine form at home, they haven't dropped a point, but their away form is two wins out of four with one draw and one defeat. Crawley defeated them 1-0, at Leigh they draw 3-3, but they defeated both Stevenage and Woking by 1-0 and 2-1 respectively. None of the teams that the Shots have played away are above Hereford in the Conference table. Bulls supporters will also note that Hereford were unlucky to conceed a last minute goal at Crawley in the 1-1 draw.
However Hereford's home form isn't as good as it should be considering their away form. Two wins and two defeats isn't the best of starts to a season when the Bulls are expected to be at least in a the play-off place at the end of April.
The defeat by Stevenage was perhaps harsh on the day but the defeat by Halifax a fortnight ago was deserved. The defence was at sixs and sevens and let in three sloppy goals.
However the introduction of Tom Smith to the team in place of Tamika Mkandawire appears to have steadied the ship. The back three looked more comfortable both at Gravesend, especially in the second half, and last Saturday against Scarborough.
In midfield there have been calls for Graham Hyde to start leaving Jamie Pitman on the bench. Hyde has not featured other than as a substitute to date at Edgar Street. On the one hand some think Pitman has not "challenged as well" as in previous seasons, but on the other hand others are of the view that Hyde adds little to the side when he comes on. Unless Pitman is still not fully recovered from summer surgery, Graham Turner may well stick with him.
Robinson is expected to take Green's place on the left once again allowing Travis to play on the right where he seems happier. Travis had an excellent game again last Saturday and had it not been for Johnathan Gould's performance in goal, could well have been Man of the Match.
Craig Stanley is, once again, expected to partner Pitman in midfield. But there could be a surprise upfront where Rob Purdie will still be missing.
Last Saturday, Lee Mills played his first full 90 minutes for the Bulls. Adam Stansfield was left on the bench but came on late in the game to replace David Brown, who scored an excellent winning goal. Mills could start again as his ability to win balls in the air could be very important this evening. He may partner Stansfield with Brown tucked in behind them.
However this arrangement could leave Danny Williams on the bench. Williams has had an excellent start to the campaign and would feel hard done by to be left out. Unless he is chosen ahead of Pitman.
Should Graham Turner go along with these thoughts the starting line-up will be: Gould, Smith, James, Tretton, Robinson, Pitman, Stanley, Travis, Brown, Stansfield and Mills. On the bench would be Williams D, Scott, Hyde, Carey-Bertram, and Mkandawire.
Whoever Turner selects, the squad knows that if they play to their ability, Hereford United can pick up three points from this game.
Meanwhile as a large crowd is expected the advice has to be to reach Edgar Street in good time and try to have the correct money for tickets at the turnstiles. This will speed up the time taken to get into the ground.
This is an important match for the Bulls. It is to be hoped that as many supporters as possible that can get to the ground will make the effort. With a dry, but breezy, evening forecast there's little excuse not to be there.