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Bulls need to stop the rot
Following the embarrasment of the defeat at the hands of Exeter on Boxing Day, Hereford United need to show some bounce-back-ability to maintain their position as promotion contenders this afternoon when Leigh R.M.I are the visitors to Edgar Street. However the game, which looks easy on paper, has proved to be a difficult task for United in previous Conference meetings at Edgar Street.
Mark Drew was set to miss Leigh's Boxing Day fixture through suspension but, because that game was called off, he will now have to serve the ban against Hereford. Striker Karl Rose is still out for the bottom of the league side with an ankle injury. Leigh, who have seven league points and no away victorys, may be looking forward to the trip to Edgar Street having had three wins and two draws there in previous seasons.
Hereford have no fresh injury problems from the Exeter game but neither Lee Mills nor Danny Williams are expected to feature again. Both have ankle injuries and are not likely to have recovered since the Boxing Day game so will once again miss out. Ryan Green came through the match with no reaction to his hamstring.
Graham Turner will have to seriously consider changes to his side following the inept performance against the Grecians. Many supporters have been calling for a change in formation but the changes may be more likely to be in personel. It will be surprising if Jamie Pitman and Graham Hyde both start again in the centre of midfield as United have only scored once in three games with this pairing. David Brown or Rob Purdie could be recalled to the left wing with Craig Stanley returning to his preferred position in the middle.
Tony James hopes that Hereford can put in a good performance and re-install some confidence into the side against Leigh, but he also realises that it might be a tricky game. "Past games against them, at home, have always been tricky. We've just got to get back and start a new run now, forget about this (Exeter) game, erase it from the memory and get back to some good work and play the football we have been doing these last few weeks." He told BBC H&W.
"We could do with a good win against them, a good confidence booster."