HEREFORD Head Coach Marc Richards was glad his side came away with three points despite his side not putting in a great performance.

The Bulls ran out 2-0 victors over a Gloucester City with Kieran Thomas scoring the opener before Tom Owen-Evans’ penalty sealed the points.

“We got the three points and it is a difficult place to come to,” said Richards.

“It is a difficult place to come to and you felt the wind even today. To get the three points was what it was all about today.

“It wasn’t a great performance being honest, obviously with the sending off that changed it slightly. We need to be better in terms of the levels we are aspiring too.

“I would have taken any win today. Against 11 or even when they went down to 10 or nine I still felt we needed more urgency in their game but it’s nice that they found a way to win even if it was a long time coming with that second goal.

“There are lots of things to take away from the game in terms of learning and making sure we get better as we go along.

“I don’t think we really got into any rhythm tonight in terms of what we saw in pre-season and in spells against Spennymoor.

“We will tick it off, three away points and move on.”

Despite not putting in the best performance Richards was pleased with the professional nature of his players during a volatile game that saw Jake Jackson and Fabien Robert both given a red card.

“It was one of those little coming together where somebody kicks out and the referee has made the decision,”added Richards.

“The second one was two yellows. They battled extremely hard and are going to cause problems in these National League North and are very effective at what they do.

“It was the half-time team talk to ensure that any of the lads who were already on a booking, were professional in the second half and we didn’t allow the referee to even it up. I thought we managed that part of it pretty well.

“I don’t think there was another contentious issue in the second half. I’m really pleased from that perspective

Thomas scored the opening 32nd minute goal with a low driven shot before making some last gasp blocks and crunching tackles.

“He’s buzzing, he’s taken a whack from a tackle in the first half,” Richards added.

“I don’t know how he times it so well but I’ve seen him pop a ball in a 50/50 tackle, that’s how hard he tackles.

“He’s unlike anybody I’ve seen in football in terms of the way he tackles and I love that about him.”

Richards was returning to Gloucester City, who he left in October to join Hereford along with assistant Will Morford and video analyst Luke Brick.

“When the fixtures came out I was thinking I had spent a long time at Gloucester as a player, player/coach, assistant manager and manager,”added Richards.

“It’s a club that was dear to my heart and I know a lot of the boys. It was a tough one really, obviously 100 per cent I couldn’t wait to get the three points but having said that I have massive respect for the club.”