Battered Bulls out to regain lost pride

GRAHAM Turner will be hoping lightning doesn’t strike twice when Hereford United entertain Athletic tomorrow.

The Bulls’ manager is still haunted by his side’s display at Boundary Park three months ago went he admits they were lucky not to lose by a wider margin than 4-0.

“That was one of the low points of my career. We were poor and ill-disciplined,” said Turner.

Bearing in mind Turner will take charge of Hereford for the 701st time tomorrow - he has also managed Shrewsbury, Aston Villa and Wolves - his frank admission indicates how badly his side played against Athletic.

Turner, whose side won two promotions in three seasons to climb from Blue Square Premier to Coca-Cola League One, admits it has been a struggle for Hereford to adjust to life at a higher level.

“There is a world of difference between League One and League Two, playing the likes of Leicester and Leeds compared to Accrington Stanley and Rochdale last year,” he said.
Turner was handicapped by a lack of finance during the summer when he was unable to recruit the players he needed.

But he still believes The Bulls can beat the drop. Hereford have been competitive in many of their games, with eight defeats coming by single-goal margins.

Hereford lost 2-1 at Leicester in their last away game and held Tranmere to a 2-2 draw at home but, because of postponements, tomorrow’s match will be their first fixture of 2009.

“I feel we are better than our points total suggests, but we have not been able to convert the chances we have created,” he added.

The fact that much-travelled veteran Steve Guinan is top scorer with six goals underlines why Hereford are in their current predicament.

But despite their struggles, Turner believes the Bulls can stave off the threat of relegation.

To do so they will need to be shrewd in the transfer market and Turner, who is also chairman and majority shareholder of the Edgar Street club, currently has four players on loan, including 20-year-old midfield player Sam Hewson from Manchester United.

He said: “It is something which works two ways.

“It gives players from clubs, usually ones in higher divisions, the opportunity to play first-team football and gain experience as well as helping clubs like ourselves.

“(United manager) Sir Alex Ferguson frequently lets young players go out on loan and he was happy to allow Sam to join us.”

Hewson will make his debut against Athletic tomorrow alongside other on-loan players Josh Gowling (Bournemouth), Andy Williams (Bristol Rovers) and Lionel Ainsworth (Watford).

Turner believes Athletic will be in the promotion mix at the end of the season.

He said: “Obviously they played very well against us at Boundary Park, though we were very poor that day.

“I also saw them lose 3-1 at Stockport where they dominated the opening half. They were without Lee Hughes that night.”

Edgar Street will be an unfamiliar destination for most Athletic fans as it has been off the radar for almost 33 years.

Indeed, this will be only Athletic’s third-ever visit. They won 4-3 in their Third Division title-winning campaign of 1973/74 and were involved in a goalless draw in 1976.

LEAGUE ONE: Tonight - Hartlepool v Northampton. Tomorrow - Brighton v Leeds, Carlisle v MK Dons, Colchester v Cheltenham, Crewe v Scunthorpe, Hereford v Athletic, Huddersfield v Swindon, Leyton Orient v Bristol Rovers, Millwall v Tranmere, Peterborough v Walsall, Stockport v Southend. Monday - Yeovil v Leicester.