It was another night to forget at Edgar Street as Hereford were beaten 2-0 at home by Oxford City.
Fans have bemoaned tactical choices and formation once again as a back five with three in central midfield left a pedestrian and uninspired Hereford almost wonky, but two late goals from the visitors sealed the Bulls' fate.
After a poor first half performance with the hosts rarely able to keep hold of the ball, Alex Babos was sent off in the 44th minute for a second bookable offence - a reckless challenge.
Paul Caddis made two changes to the side that lost 3-0 at Chester on Saturday, with Lawson D'Ath and Ty Deacon in for Aurio Teixeira and Andy Williams, with Jason Cowley absent with illness.
While an early corner for Oxford saw Hereford bring everyone back, the visitors failed to test Aaron Chapman with the short set piece and he could comfortably watch a speculative follow-up from range sail well wide.
In front of the Blackfriars End, visiting stopper Kai McKenzie-Lyle couldn't keep hold of an Alex Babos cross from the right. The ball fell to Yusifu Ceesay, but as he scrambled a shot away, he couldn't find the target with the low effort.
For Oxford, Josh McEachran should have done better to break the deadlock as a mix-up in the Hereford defence saw him get a shot away, but the shot lacked conviction as Chapman made a slow-motion save down to his right.
With the first half lacking pace, and suffering a relentless cycle of both teams taking the ball toward the 18-yard box before being dispossessed, it was the 23rd minute before the next chance to break the deadlock. Falling to Tom Scott, his shot from 20 yards was low and drilled diagonal across the area, eventually going wide of the diving keeper’s net.
Both keepers were rarely called into action, and even in the 43rd minute, Ahkeem Rose couldn't test McKenzie-Lyle - a ball fell nicely to him in the area but he couldn't do enough to control the volley as he saw it deflected over.
The biggest talking point of the first half would be the sending off of Alex Babos, first booked for bringing McEachran's surging run to halt, he picked up a second yellow for a similar challenge on Josh Parker, leaving referee Ash Clarke with little choice.
Half time: Hereford 0 - Oxford City 0
Into the second half and with one less man, the Bulls had their backs against the wall and looked cagey in front of the home fans. While change might've been needed after Saturday's showing, it was unlikely to happen against Oxford.
The visitors would've been happy with a point - but didn't always sit back and absorb the pressure as at times there was very little from Hereford.
Other than a Josh Ashby free-kick sailing through a crowded box and going wide and a Reece Fleet effort also wide, there was very little to write home about. In the 62nd minute, Ceesay broke free and set up Rose, but his effort was blocked.
The closest either side came to scoring was when Oxford struck the woodwork nine minutes later, Scott rattling the crossbar with his last kick of the game after Parker pulled the ball back having latched onto the end of a Preston clearance.
Despite Aurio Teixeira and Cosmos Matwasa being introduced, it was the away side who looked more likely to score and claim the three points. Searching for their third away win in a row, Parker saw an effort go over Chapman's goal before being called into action to deny Ashby, who had returned for the match after a one-match suspension.
There was a chance for Matwasa, playing deep on the right, after the constant pest Ceesay had managed to bring a long ball under control and hold it up. Having crossed to Matwasa at the back post, he forced the keeper into a crucial save.
But, other than the final whistle, that was the highlight of the second half for the 1,930 Bulls fans. In the 88th minute, Preston's scuffed clearance fell to Ashby to stab home - Paul Caddis responded by introducing Andy Williams and Adam Rooney but it would prove to be too little too late.
In five minutes of added time, started by the visiting keeper going down with cramp after such a busy evening, Hereford had thrown everything forward and were stung on the counter attack. Alfie Potter was able to burst through on goal with the remaining defenders committed forward, teeing up Josh Parker to double Oxford's lead.
Full time: Hereford 0 - Oxford City 2
Attendance: 1,949 (19 away)
Sponsors' man of the match: Yusifu Ceesay
Hereford: Chapman, Howkins (Williams 89’), Preston, Hudson, Bartley, Campbell, D’Ath (Rooney 89’), Ceesay, Babos, Deacon (Teixeira 63’), Rose (Matwasa 63’)
Sub not used: Horton
Oxford City: McKenzie-Lyle, Burley, Ashby, Jones, Fleet, McEachran, Parker, Scott (Potter 71’), Carbon (Walsh 77’), Roddy (Coyle 71’), Drewe
Subs not used: Siddik, Croker