Lincoln City
Bulls to see red in relegation battle?
By Nathan Jackson
July 16 2007
Hereford United's 4-1 win at Sincil Bank arguably cost the Imps automatic promotion, but in the 3 months that followed the Imps and the Bulls only won a combined three times. Since then Hereford has lost virtually all their squad, including several of their best players and they have yet to bring in sufficient replacements, could this cost them their place in the Football League?
Cast your mind back 2 years and you’ll get to City’s Playoff Final against Southend and the whole "third time lucky" bullshit was going around, and subsequently went down the pan. A year later and Hereford did achieve their "third time lucky" in the Conference playoffs by defeating Halifax after extra time.
Their first home game back in the Football League was against the Imps, and boy did they give us a test. City haven’t had to work that hard for a victory for years, only a brilliant performance from Marriott kept the Imps in the game. It was arguably the most entertaining game of last season with both sides looking capable of scoring double figures. Although from that game you'd think that Hereford were owed about 15 penalties due to the amount of times "HANDBALL" was shouted.
Fast forward 6 months and Hereford destroyed the Imps at Sincil Bank, the result that I feel was responsible for us not to win promotion. It knocked the Imps confidence as Hereford ran riot and won 4-1 thanks to two strikers who regularly score against the Imps, Alan Connell and Steve Guinan. After that game the Imps just won twice more, Hereford just the once and that was against lowly Boston.
I was impressed with Hereford last season and they could have easily finished in the playoffs, but that late poor run totally destroyed their chances of promotion, much like City’s run destroyed their chances of automatic promotion.
However, this summer has been extremely bad for Hereford so far with virtually every single player leaving. The afformentioned Connell has left for Brentford, whereas other regular first teamers such as Tamika Mkandawire, Rob Purdie and Andy Williams have all flown from the nest. The one saving grace is that Steve Guinan has agreed to join them on a permanent basis. The rest of their incoming players raise an eyebrow though.
John McCombe, brother of former City favourite Jamie, is one of the players that have come in so far, along with players such as Karl Broadhurst. I get the horrible feeling that these won’t be sufficient replacements for the departed players. Whilst the afformentioned collapse might not permanently effect the Imps due to keeping the same squad, Hereford's lack of decent replacements could easily see their bad run continue.
The one thing that gives Hereford a great advantage over the rest of the division though is that they have the best home atmosphere. During the early part of last season they sung the opposition into submission and this could be the reason why they got off to a frantic start, but as the season went on the opposition started to adapt and then results started going south.
Overall I would love for Hereford to avoid relegation but given their form at the end of the season, combined with all their best players leaving doesn’t leave me seeing them finishing outside the relegation zone. I hope they prove me wrong because I would love to go there again in the future, but I just get that feeling they’ll be back in the non-league in 2008/9.
Graham Turner oversaw Hereford’s last relegation, could he be about to oversee another? I'm predicting Hereford to fight bravely against relegation but inevitably finishing 23rd.
Do you agree with my opinion or think that Hereford can not only pull away from relegation, but sit comfortably in midtable or possibly even higher? Either way post your opinion in the message board bit below.
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