So, it’s back again. Another week of County, and Graham Turner brings Hereford to The Park. After the amazing away win at Carlisle which of course sends County to the semi finals of the Johnstones Paint Trophy, confidence will be high in the dressing room.
Hereford United
Hereford have had a storming start to the season, second in the league, only MK in front of them.
They recently pulled off a 0-0 draw with Leeds, earning a live TV replay against Dennis Wise’s men. As well as that good result, they recently thrashed high flyers Darlo 5-1. Journeyman Trevor Benjamin, who has played for 16 clubs, signed for the Buls in the summer and has proved a big hit along side loanee youngster Theo Robinson. Also a threat for the Bulls is midfielder Lionel Ainsworth, having been released by Derby in the summer. Ainsworth has played 14 games this season, scoring a fisrt half hattrick against Yeovil in the 4-1 Carlicg Cup win, as well as chipping in with assists during the rest of the season..
Vital Quotes:
Jim Gannon: ‘It’s a difficult one to work out. {The home form as opposed to the away form.}’
‘It could be tactically that we’re able to go away from home and perhaps be a bit more defensive-minded and play different systems to get results. We did that at MK Dons, maybe not so much at Rochdale where we were able to defend deep and counter -attack, and at Carlisle where we came with a game plan.’
‘But it’s difficult to do that at home when the onus is on you to take the game to the opposition, which perhaps we’re not always good at.’
Graham Turner: ‘They’ve responded well [to the draw with Staines] going up to Carlisle and winning the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy match 3-0.’
When you look at the squad they’ve got, the team they’ve got, the people in there, we know Elding from our Conference days, he’s a good striker. We know Proudlock from his Wolves days, played in Wolves’ first team and he can be a handful, and there are a number of other players in their side that can be very effective for them.’
‘They’re not having the best of seasons, we’ve done well away from home so far this season.’
‘What we’ve got to do is get right back to the basics of the way we worked against Leeds, and I thought we worked tremendously hard to contain them, if we go and work as hard as we did against Leeds we’re quite capable of coming away with the three points.’
*Graham Turner was speaking to Herefordunited.co.uk.
County Team News:
North West Player of the Year Ash Williams is out for seven weeks with medial ligament damage and Chris Adamson is out with spinal injuries.
Jason Taylor is back after the ‘5 yellow card’ ban, and Adam Nowland could finally start for County after being cup tied for the last two games.
Dom Blizzard is out for five to six weeks with calf damage.
Player to watch: Adam Nowland
Nowland could finally debut for County, having been cup tied for the Staines game and the Carlisle game. He will prove a handful alongside Jason Taylor tomorrow.
Hereford Team News:
New loanee Lee Collins will have to start after losing Trent McClanahan to international duty, Dean Becwith with a broken jaw, and Karl Broadhurst with damaged ankle ligaments.
Player to watch: Trevor Benjamin
The big striker has been around the block, playing for sixteen clubs, scoring seventy-seven goals, including one for Peterborough against County last season. He has proved a threat already this season, scoring seven goals, with pacey Theo Robinson chipping in with 5.
Match Facts & Stats
County – 6/4
Draw – 21/10
Hereford – 6/4
Ref Watch:
Mr Foster has been oifficating in the Blue Square Premier for six of the seven seasons he has been a referee, but officiated the 0-0 draw with Bury last season.
Match Prediction:
2-1 Hereford. Sorry to be negative but last time I predicted a defeat we won 3-0.
Next Fixtures:
Staines v COUNTY (Live on Sky)
A better performance but we need to start winning at home like last season