HEREFORD Head Coach Marc Richards said his side failed to do the basics right during their 3-1 defeat at King’s Lynn Town.

The Bulls suffered their first league defeat of the season with Mike Symons pulling a consolation goal back.

“We were nowhere near it and they deserved the win,” said Richards.

“It was easily a fair score-line. We didn’t do the basics, we didn’t compete, win the second balls and they were better than us all around especially for 65 minutes irrelevant of what shape or system we play.

“If we don’t do the basics, work harder than the opposition and win the second balls and do all the things that will make a team successful then it doesn’t matter what we do tactically.

“Throughout pre-season and the first two games of the season it has been okay, the performance against Gloucester wasn’t great but we got the right result.

“Sometimes you can’t put your finger on it. I don’t think creativity was the problem and thought in passages we played some alright stuff in possession. Out of possession and in transition we were nowhere near the levels we need to be at.

“What was really frustrating was the basics. Some of the information we gave the boys like Nash being an experienced striker and pulling off onto the back post every time it is in a crossing position.

“He will target maybe the smallest players and the first goal is the prime example. We concede just before half-time, a critical time of the game. We had a brilliant chance to go 2-1 and within 45 seconds we were 3-0 down from a deflected cross so pretty frustrated.

“It was really sloppy at times in terms of giving the ball away in areas we shouldn’t and we weren’t as tidy as we’ve been in that defensive third.

“It’s the basic, following men into the box and following the runners. The third goal summed it up really a deflected, looping ball that has gone over Brandon (Hall).”

 Richards has hinted that there will be changes ahead of the visit of AFC Telford United on Tuesday night.

“We have got good strength and depth in the squad so it has given me massive headaches going into the Telford game,” added Richards.

“There are some lads jumping at the bit to get an opportunity and some of them will get that opportunity on Tuesday.

“We knew August was going to be crazy and four games in 10 games was going to be tough. The good thing is we have got a quick turnaround and have got another game in three days times.

“I have got have a really good luck at it in terms of how we go on Tuesday.”