Hereford United boss Gra-ham Turner is urging his players to banish the memory of their last-minute Leigh agony by upsetting Southport to-night (7.45).

The Bulls, who went down 2-1 at Leigh RMI on Friday night after a last-minute goal, have now lost three Nationwide Conference games in succession and now face a daunting trip to Haig Avenue.

Turner, however, believes his side need to stop the slide if they are to take any momentum into Satur-day's all-important FA Umbro Trophy semi-final clash with Forest Green Rovers.

He said: "It's fair to say the two games with Forest Green are the important ones for us now. However, we've now lost three on the trot and that sequence has to stop. We felt we were unlucky in two of our last three games, especially in our last one."

Turner was angry with Ian Rodgerson's second-half sending off at Leigh which, he believed, cost the Edgar Street side the game. With the game delicately balanced at 1-1, the home side went on to steal a last-minute winner after Rodgerson's red card for an alleged elbow.

Turner said: "I thought we were the more likely side once we had equalised. However, the sending off completely changed the game again.

"The boys have reacted well though in training and are determined to put a stop to the losing sequence before Saturday.

"It's true that you get into habits and this is one we want to get out of!"

Former Kidderminster Harriers defender Matt Clarke looks likely to return for Hereford in place of the suspended Paul Sturgess but key striker Gavin Williams is still ruled out of contention by his troublesome calf.

Southport, touted as one of the potential Conference front-runners earlier in the season, go into the game on the back of a mini-slump themselves.

They went down 1-0 at Boston on Sunday but will be desperate for three points to keep them in the race for a top three Conference finish.

Despite Hereford's focus on the Trophy, Turner still acknowledges that his side need to improve their Conference form if they are to qualify for next season's LDV Vans Trophy.

He said: "Of course we are looking to the FA Trophy now as the best chance of silverware, but we are still determined to finish as high as we can in the Nationwide Conference."