IAN Wright will be urging his Hereford United defence to keep it tight at Nuneaton Borough tomorrow (3pm).

The Bulls' promising start to the Nationwide Conference season came to an abrupt end over the Bank Holiday weekend and United skipper Wright blamed lapse defending for the two defeats.

The visit to Manor Park affords Hereford the chance to return to winning ways but on a difficult sloping pitch it is going to a difficult task for the Edgar Street outfit.

"It's always a tight game when we play Nuneaton and after two defeats its important we try and bounce back," said Wright.

"We've had a good start but we didn't play well at Gravesend and gave away three bad goals while on Monday we shouldn't have lost but we did.

"Tomorrow gives us a chance to get back to winning ways and try and keep our momentum going."

Nuneaton's pitch could be a decisive factor in the outcome with even Borough defender Lee Howey admitting it was difficult to play on the slope.

"We want Manor Park to become a fortress and a lot of clubs don't like playing at our place," he said.

"But we have ended up kicking up hill in the first half of our home games this season and it is difficult kicking against the slope.

"It doesn't look hard when you are watching but trying to kick from the bottom end is not so easy."

Striker John Grant stands by to make his first start of the season and the 21-year-old had a positive message for Bulls' fans by insisting they can still finish in the play-off places.

"I am positive that we can finish in the top five," he said. "We have lost our last two games but the fans should not be too despondent. Morecambe, for instance, were only in our box three times and scored two goals."

Turner has injury doubts over Andy Tretton who missed the Morecambe game after picking up a knock in the Gravesend match.

Formcast: Bulls to win it 2-1.