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Next Game: Rushall At Home In The League On Saturday 30th November At 3.00pm

Sunday, January 20, 2019

Shackled Bulls Not Good Enough First Half Said Richards


Hereford played in a 'difficult' atmosphere with their shackles on and individual mistakes cost the side yesterday, according to Head Coach Marc Richards.

Richards said the players weren't at the levels they needed to be in the first half yesterday and despite creating more opportunities in the second half it wasn't enough to beat Nuneaton Borough yesterday.

The Whites drew 2-2 with Nuneaton at Edgar Street yesterday and Marc Richards summed up the game: "We were poor first half, better second half so probably a fair result."

Richards feels the players are restricted at the minute, possibly putting it down to a 'difficult' atmosphere at Edgar Street.

"I feel they (the players) are playing with their shackles on a little bit," Richards said after the game.

"I don't know why, it is difficult the atmosphere sometimes, probably directed at myself as well, can be a bit negative I think that maybe affects the players' decision making at times. I don't think that helps to be honest if we are all in it together. 

"That sort of environment of somebody making the right decision at the right time can be affected.

"Having said that, we weren't good enough first half and the players weren't at the level they needed to be and it was probably a fair result going into half time.

"Second half we showed a lot more gusto in terms of how we played, we got on the ball a little bit more and created some chances it's just a shame we didn't get the result at the end of it."

Nuneaton rooted to the foot of the table, seven points adrift of 21st place, but deserved a point from the game, Richards said.

"They've got nothing to lose at the moment to be fair to them, they played like that today and fully deserved the point," the Head Coach added.

"You go into every game about how you can exploit areas of their weakness.

"Irrelevant of the tactics sometimes ability for those one-to-one battles, 50/50s and winning the second balls needs to be better and it wasn't there first half.

"We had some words at half time and they came out and put in a better performance second half. It was just frustrating we were in that position. A few little things just creeping in in terms of giving away silly free kick and that's cost us today."

Hereford changed their shape ahead of the game, opting for a 4-4-2 formation with George Lloyd alongside Mike Symons up front. After 'some words' at half time, they changed back to the 4-3-3 that had been used in recent games.

"Just the shape. We played around with the shape (at half time). I think if we performed how we did the first half it wouldn't have mattered what shape we were playing.

"We weren't good enough first half and it cost us two set pieces and I'm glad we got something out of the game. Second half we huffed and puffed a little bit but not enough."