IDIDN’T think that we were as good as we had been at Plymouth on Saturday.

But we ground out a result against the odds after conceding a penalty and having Michael Townsend sent off.

The players worked hard to make sure that they didn’t throw it away which, maybe, a few weeks ago we would have done.

And we came away with a good point which might be very valuable come the end of the season.

Christmas always brings a few changes to our schedule and this year is slightly different again because there are not so many games due to the days of the week the holidays fall on.

Players have to accept that they get their breaks during the summer but Christmas is about families and so, of course, we look at things and try to prepare as best we can.

The players will have a couple of days off; we’ll work very hard for three or four days and then everyone will have Christmas Day off.

It’s difficult at a club like this, because of its location, with some players travelling daily and some living far away but staying in Hereford.

In past years we’ve come in at 5pm and trained on the pitch or at 9.30am and done a quick hour-and-a-half. And, if everybody was living in the city, it would be fantastic to be able to do that.

Christmas Day is a long day for everyone, especially those who have families and we give the players the responsibility of getting out and doing something during the day, whether it be a walk or a jog.

We trust the players to do what they need to do; we feel that we have a good bunch of lads here whom we can trust so they are given a line which they have to keep within.

With the kick-off against Port Vale being at 1.30pm, that also affects things a little.

It means that those players who live a long way away but have accommodation within the city are asked to be back there the night before, even if that is 10 or 11pm.

We believe that is acceptable.

Christmas Day is a long day and at 8pm you’re probably only going to be sitting around so why not get in your car, travel back and prepare for the game properly. To travel back three hours on the day of a game, particularly for a 1.30pm kick-off, would not be good preparation.

After Port Vale, we have another change of schedule with the Accrington game taking place on the Friday night.

It was Accrington’s request but it also gives us a little extra time to prepare for the game at Burton on the Bank Holiday Monday.

A night game also can create a bit more atmosphere and hopefully we’ll get a good crowd through the doors.

This has been a tough year but also a very positive one in that, last season, we stayed in the Football League; now, this season, we have to do the same.

We have plenty of fighting spirit in the club and hope that will come through in the New Year - we hope the spirit will come through, too, from everybody around the city as we need to have a club that is in the Football League and, to do that, we need everyone to get behind us, keep pushing us and keep coming along to Edgar Street.

A very Happy Christmas and a successful New Year to everyone - I’ll look forward to seeing you at the Port Vale game on Boxing Day.