Hereford United

Poor finishing costs errant Bulls
Hereford United manager Graham Turner was frustrated by his team's inability to finish off their chances in the 2-1 League Two defeat at Lincoln City. Gary Hooper atoned for a first-half miss by equalising in the second period for United, but two goals from Dany N'Guessian won the game for The Imps. "We've had a lot of chances but it didn't go for us," Turner told SSB. "We've people who are normally reliable in front of goal but it didn't happen." Monday's defeat means the Bulls picked up just one point from their two Easter games to drop eight points behind the top two. But they remain third thanks to Darlington - surprisingly beaten at Chester on Saturday - suffering a similarly poor Easter.

Smith dismayed at dropped points
Hereford United captain Ben Smith said he was bitterly disappointed after Saturday's 2-2 draw to Chester City. The Bulls were 2-0 up at half-time but conceded a late penalty from which Chester's Kevin Ellison equalised. "Even though we've gone back into the automatic promotion places, it feels like a loss," Smith told SSB. "Their lad scored a great strike, and then they've got a penalty with the last kick of the game."

Turner revels in Bulls promotion
Hereford United manager Graham Turner said he was proud of his side after they achieved promotion from League Two at Brentford on Saturday. Turner told SSB: "I've had some great moments in football, this is the freshest and in my mind and this is the best. "We've had a group of players that have worked tremendously hard for the club. "The support has been terrific and they've deserved it because we were a long time in the Conference." The Bulls only got back into League football in 2006 after a nine-year spell away. And Turner added that the club had benefited from improvements off the pitch: "We had to stabilise the club financially, it took us a long time to do that and we've gradually improved everything. "We've traded in the black for the last five years and we believe we can go forward again." Turner's assistant John Trewick was also ecstatic about the Bulls' success. "Two promotions in three seasons, it's a fantastic achievement. "People talk about Mourinho being special but some have got to look a little closer to home to see what's actually been achieved. "We've got limited resources at this club and, even if I say so myself, two in three years is absolutely phenomenal. "There's been a big knot come out of my stomach, I feel fantastic, the journey's been incredible." Meanwhile Hereford midfielder Clint Easton was pleased to be able to prove the club's critics wrong. "We were tipped to go down at the start of the season but everyone stuck together. "The manager and players have been brilliant and we've proved everyone wrong."

Bulls will play right way - coach
Hereford United coach John Trewick says promotion to League One will not change the way he and Bulls manager Graham Turner want their team to play. United impressed a lot of people not only by getting promoted, but the style of football with which they played. And Trewick insists there will be the same emphasis on playing the right way. "The philosophy runs through me and the boss," he said. "We'll instil the same passing ethic. It's not going to change because we're at a higher level."

Gates may fall next term - Turner
Hereford United manager Graham Turner says clubs may be hit by lower gates next season, as fans simply cannot afford to go to every game. Turner told BBC Hereford and Worcester that clubs have to be realistic and could be hit by the 'credit crunch'. "Gates could be reduced," said Turner. "Families are finding it tough. Maybe not us, but I think a lot will have to deal with lower gates. "One of the first things to go out of the window is kids and dads football."

Hereford bring in two new faces
Hereford have signed two players from Premier League clubs, Robbie Threlfall and Bradley Hudson-Odoi. Liverpool full-back Threlfall, 19, has signed on a season-long loan from Anfield as he looks to gain more first-team experience. Threlfall spent most of last season at Edgar Street, but was hampered by injury, playing only 12 games. Fulham striker Hudson-Odoi, 22, has also signed on a one-year deal after spending pre-season with the Bulls. "Big clubs with big staffs are happy to loan players out," Bulls boss Graham Turner told BBC Hereford & Worcester. "The principle that we had Robbie Threlfall here on loan last season still applies." As for Hudson-Odoi, the Ghanaian Under-20 international, who has been with the Fulham Academy since he was 12, broke several youth team scoring records at Craven Cottage.

Chadwick close to start for Bulls
Hereford boss Graham Turner reckons that new signing Nick Chadwick could make his debut as early as Saturday. After signing last week, the former Plymouth striker did not feature in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Southend. But Turner has told BBC Hereford and Worcester that Chadwick could play against Scunthorpe at Edgar Street. "He needs some fitness, and some work," said Turner. "But he will be playing in a reserve game against Cardiff this week, and we'll go from there."

Turner 'embarrassed' by 24th spot
Hereford United manager Graham Turner has said he is "embarrassed" by his team's position in League One. The Bulls are three points adrift at the bottom of the division, following their 1-0 defeat by high-flying Leeds after a gallant performance. Turner told Hereford and Worcester: "It's embarrassing to be so far behind, we have worked hard to get here. We must work just as hard to stay here." Hereford were promoted from League Two last season. Of the Leeds game, Turner said: "We had a good shape in the first half and we kept them to long range. "But we gave the ball away when we had good possession, which is the first time this season we have done that this season. "Even at Bristol when we got hammered we passed it well, but we wasted good opportunities with the ball at Elland Road. "But having said that Darren Randolph was outstanding and kept us un the game with some great saves." Turner was also happy with his new signing Bruno N'Gotty, the former French international defender. "He's played at the top level, and you can see that, it's a pleasure and privilege to have him with us."

Bulls extend N'Gotty loan spell
Hereford United have extended the loan spell of Leicester central defender Bruno N'Gotty for a second month. The former France international, 37, has played six games for the Bulls. Manager Graham Turner told BBC Hereford and Worcester: "He has that experience and that calming influence for players around him. "He doesn't say an awful lot for a very experienced player, but you can see that calming influence from the way he deals with things."

Defeat disappointed us - Turner
Hereford United manager Graham Turner said his side were disappointed with their 1-0 defeat at Millwall. Both sides had a man sent off in Tuesday's game, which saw United concede the only goal with just four minutes of normal time remaining. And the Bulls boss told BBC Hereford & Worcester: "We are bitterly disappointed, we worked hard and got nothing from the game. "Possibly the worst thing that happened to us was their man getting sent off." Turner added: "We were coping well and for the last fifteen minutes of the first half we were getting into the game. "When the sending off happened there's always the fear that the referee will even things up and that's what he did . "It created more space and made it more difficult for us to defend but having said they they only created two chances. "Confidence is sapped and the players don't want to make a mistake so we moved the ball too quickly, we are not all on the same wavelength in terms of passing the ball."

Injury ends N'Gotty loan at Bulls
On-loan defender Bruno N'Gotty looks to have played his last game for Hereford after suffering a serious injury. The 37-year-old, on loan from Leicester, went off after nine minutes of Saturday's defeat at Peterborough with a suspected ruptured Achilles. Bulls manager Graham Turner told Hereford and Worcester: "It's a really serious injury. "It could keep him out of the game for quite a long time. At his stage, maybe even for the rest of the season." The former French international AC Milan defender is on loan at Edgar Street until the end of the month.

Trewick feels sorry for strikers
Hereford United coach John Trewick had sympathy for his strikers after seeing the Bulls' goal drought continue. Having managed only eight goals in 15 league games, the Bulls drew another blank in the 0-0 FA Cup first round draw against Dagenham & Redbridge. Hereford are away to Leicester in round two if they win next Tuesday's replay. And Trewick still backs his strikers, admitting: "Nothing seems to be falling for them. Even when we had good chances last week their keeper was inspired." The Bulls coach insists the front men are putting in the effort. "It's not easy because you are judged as a striker on the amount of goals you score," he said. "That's the bottom line. "So we have to keep on working with the players, and hope we turn the corner." Trewick says they should have won against Dagenham and Redbridge and not needed a replay. "We did not dominate the game," he said. "But we were the better side, and we did everything except score a goal. "It becomes an issue, the more people make of an issue. The harder it gets when you don't score."

Liverpool loan Antwi to Hereford
Hereford United have responded to a defensive injury crisis by signing Godwin Antwi from Liverpool on a month's emergency loan. Dean Beckwith (concussion) and Josh Gowling (ankle) picked up injuries in Saturday's 3-2 win at Cheltenham. And, with Karl Broadhurst having also failed to come out for the second half, Bulls boss Turner has brought in Antwi. The Ghana-born defender, 20, joined Liverpool in August 2005, after starting his career at Real Zaragoza. This will be the fourth loan move of his short career for Antwi, who was part of Liverpool's FA Youth Cup-winning team in 2006. He spent the last two months of the 2006/07 campaign in League Two at Accrington Stanley, then spent the whole of last season at Hartlepool. And he spent the first half of this season at another of the Bulls' League One rivals Tranmere Rovers. Antwi could be set for an immediate debut against Leeds United at Edgar Street on Tuesday night ahead of another Liverpool youngster, keeper Peter Gulacsi. Gulacsi and fellow January deadline signing Fabien Brandy, from Manchester United, both made their debut in Saturday's win at Whaddon Road.

View Full Version: Hereford United