UNLUCKY Hereford failed to get the reward they deserved from a solid display against fellow-strugglers Bradford.

The Bulls dominated play for long periods but were unable to claw back after falling behind to David Syers’ early goal.

After their two-week lay-off, Hereford made two changes for the trip to Valley Parade.

Janos Kovacs returned to the back-line for his first start since early September with Matt Lund given a first start in central midfield alongside Kenny Lunt.

Guillem Bauza and Mathieu Manset started in place of Stuart Fleetwood and Sean Canham, who were on the substitutes’ bench, where they were joined by James McQuilkin.

Both Rob Purdie and Richard Rose missed out through illness.

Hereford went on to the attack from the outset and, after a Lund free-kick was blocked, Bauza’s cross almost deceived home keeper Lennie Pidgeley.

The ball beat the keeper but flew through the six-yard box before going out of play on the opposite flank.

Bradford, though, won the first corner when Omar Daley’s seventh minute shot deflected behind off Lund.

Kovacs did well to head the cross away.

The Bulls were behind a minute later when David Syers’ 25-yarder beat Adam Bartlett and went in off a post.

Four minutes later, Bartlett had to beat out another long-range drive from full-back Luke O’Brien.

Hereford were fortunate, too in the 16th minutes when the lively Daley beat the offside trap but lost control, with the ball running through to Bartlett.

At the other end, Bauza won a corner for Hereford with a curling shot which was pushed behind by Pidgeley.

From Nicky Featherstone’ cross, Kovacs powered in a volley which was deflected inches over.

Hereford continued to pressurise the home defence and another Bauza shot was bundled away from inside the six-yard box.

Kovacs marked his return in the 20th minute with a clumsy challenge on former England international Lee Hendrie which brought a caution.

Hereford stormed back and only a fine save by Pidgely kept out Bauza’s header from a Joe Colbeck cross.

Brilliant work by Bartlett, though saved Hereford on 29 minutes.

The keeper raced off his line to block when Tom Adeyemi skated through the Hereford offside trap and into the area.

Hereford continued to pass neatly and one move ended with former Bradford player Colbeck, the subject of loud jeers whenever he got the ball, curl an effort just wide.

Hereford forced another corner in the 33rd minute but, again, the cross came to nothing.

Hendrie fired just over as Bradford stormed forward again in the 39th minute but Hereford were continuing to give as good as they got as the interval approached.

They survived an anxious moment when a foul by Michael Townsend on James Hanson conceded a free-kick 25 yards out, but O’Brien’s shot was deflected for a corner.

Bauza and Manset both threatened to get behind the City defence as Hereford made an aggressive start to the second period.

A fine pass by Bauza set Manset away but the big striker was unable to get the ball under control before City broke away for Hanson to blaze a good chance high over.

Bartlett acrobatically had to turn away a Hanson shot as the home side tried to reassert control.

Hereford kept pressing forward and Manset’s run and cross, followed by Bauza’s pass opened up the way for Lunt whose drive came back off a post.

Hereford, however, had a luck let-off when Omar Daley’s shot also came back off the woodwork with Bartlett saving brilliantly from the follow-up effort.

Hereford replaced Colbeck with McQuilkin and the substitute was soon in the action, rifling a shot across goal and wide in the 70th minute.

Manset worked an opening in the 76th minute but shot straight at Pidgeley when a pass might have brought greater dividends.

Hereford were now thoroughly on top and the large crowd were getting edgy as City desperately tried to hold on to their lead.

Despite their pressure, Hereford were unable to find a way through and, as the seconds dripped away, Bartlett had to save well from Leon Osborne in a rare City attack.

Hereford: Bartlett; Gwynn, Kovacs, Townsend, Heath; Colbeck (McQuilkin 62), Lunt, Lund (Fleetwood 73), Featherstone; Bauza; Manset. Subs not used: Heister, Weir, Webster, Stratford, Canham.

Bradford: Pidgeley, O’Brien, Oliver, Daley (Price 77), Doherty, Hendrie (Osborne 77), Hanson, Adeyemi, Syers, Kiernan (Bullock 86), Eckersley. Subs not used: McLaughlin, Evans, Moult, Threlfall.

Referee: Peter Quinn (Cleveland).

Attendance: 10,460 (including 116 from Hereford).

Goals: Syers, 8 min, 1-0.

Yellow cards: Hereford – Kovacs, foul, 20 min; Lund, foul, 65 min.