The Same Players - A Different Manager

Hereford United defeated Bradford City yesterday and thereby registered their first home win since the visit of Aldershot just over a month ago.

In fact since that match on Feb 16th the Bulls had taken just three points out of a possible twentyone, until yesterday.

And it was pleasing to see nearly all the players, including Kenny Lunt who rushed off last Tuesday evening after the Morecambe game, applauding the supporters at the end of the game.

So what has changed?

The players with the exception of the two new young loanees were the same players as have been turning out for the Bulls for most, if not all, of the season. Only Mathieu Manset who didn't appear until late September, wasn't in the squad chosen by previous manager John Trewick at the start of the campaign.

By the end of August Bartlett, Green, Rose, D Jones, Valentine, Lunt, McQuilkin, and Pugh had all started for the Bulls. And all eight were in Graham Turner's starting line-up yesterday.

Of the others who started yesterday, Gavin McCallum wasn't a regular until mid-November and Lewis Young only arrived on Friday.

So ten of the eleven who started yesterday were players signed by Trewick.

Anyone who follows football knows that one win out of three, since Turner took over, doesn't mean that the tide has turned for Hereford United. But those who were at Edgar Street yesterday and on Tuesday evening saw a more determined effort by the Bulls.

May be the players feel more comfortable playing under the guidance of Turner. May be the players have more respect for him. May be he has that knack of gelling the players together. May be his tactics are just that little bit better.

Whatever the reason or reasons, supporters went away from Edgar Street yesterday sensing that some pride has been restored to Hereford United.

May be it's the Turner Factor.

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