The Paul Rogers blog: Final rallying call to Hereford United (From Hereford Times)

The Paul Rogers blog: Final rallying call to Hereford United

9:00am Thursday 12th April 2012 in Paul Rogers Blog By Paul Rogers

TOMORROW night, Southampton face Reading in what looks like being a title decider in the Championship.

No doubt a lot of pundits will be all over it, saying how much money the teams will get if they go up to the Premiership and saying that it is the biggest game in the Football League this weekend.

But on the same night, it's Barnet versus Hereford at the other end of the Football League pyramid and to me that is the biggest game this weekend - even bigger than the FA Cup semi-finals.

You may earn millions by going up to the Premiership, but let's be honest, it's not the end of the world if you don't.

West Ham might miss out this year, but they will probably go up next year instead.

But if you get relegated from the Football League?

Well you could be talking years before you return.

Tomorrow night's game at Underhill is now or never for Hereford. It is a win or bust game.

Only three points separate Barnet (who are currently sitting outside the League Two drop zone) and bottom-of-the-table Hereford.

A Bulls win would lift themselves out of the bottom two on goal difference - though that could be only be temporary if Macclesfield beat Crewe on Saturday.

Anything else (especially a defeat) and then, in my opinion, that's it.

Hereford would have too much to do and I would be amazed if they managed to stay up.

Which is why manager Richard O'Kelly has to give the team talk of his life tomorrow night and get the players believing in themselves.

He needs to be a Winston Churchill!

Any other season, Hereford would probably be down by now, but they are not.

It appears as if it's two out of three that will be relegated, but a Hereford loss at Barnet and a Macclesfield one versus Crewe and then it won't be two out of three, as in my opinion Barnet would then be safe.

The Bulls just have to go for it tomorrow night.

Too often, they don't go for the jugular and end up throwing away points.

Monday's game against Accrington was a perfect example.

They get themselves level, but instead of taking the initiative and really going for the win, they huffed and puffed and ended up losing the game five minutes from the end.

By all accounts, Barnet battered Crawley and were unlucky to lose.

My brother-in-law is a Barnet fan and we have many conversations about the failings of our respective teams.

The conclusion is that there seems to be both an ability and a mentality problem with both sets of players, which is probably understandable when you're down at the bottom of the league.

But at least Barnet have been creating chances in recent games and no doubt they will go for it tomorrow night as well.

Yes, Hereford have to be wary at the back and be solid, but it's goals that win games.

I would start with Delroy Facey, Yoann Arquin and Tom Barkhuizen up front in a 4-3-3 formation, with Kenny Lunt, Will Evans and Rob Purdie (if he is fit) in midfield, and just be as inventive as possible.

It would be disastrous for the city if the Bulls were relegated and no one wants to see that happen.

There were 4,500 at Edgar Street on Good Friday for the Plymouth game, which created a great atmosphere.

But those fans will only return for the Northampton game a week on Saturday and the final home game versus Torquay if the team still have a chance of staying up.

I would feel sick if the Bulls lost tomorrow night as I know that it would be curtains with trips to Gateshead, Barrow and Braintree to look forward to next season, not to mention Hyde, who look like going up from Conference North.

No disrespect to those sides, but that would be a rude awakening for the Bulls fans.

So come on Hereford, pull your socks up and get the win!

Anything less, and I'm sorry but it looks like I'll be seeing you in the Blue Square Bet Premier next season.

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