HEREFORD manager Russell Slade praised the attitude and belief of his side as they came from a goal down to beat Gateshead 2-1.

The Bulls found themselves behind on the 62nd minute when Josh Kayode cut inside before driving his shot against the post before deflecting in off Brandon Hall.

However, Jordan Nicholson was on hand to meet a loose cross to put his side level four minutes later.

Finally in the 96th minute Nicholson gambled on a loose ball before pulling it back for Tommy O’Sullivan to net a late winner.

 “I was very pleased and proud of them because, we were playing against a team which is full-time so in terms of fitness levels that’s always a corner and we used our three substitutions as well,” said Slade.

“To be 1-0 down and to come back and win 2-1 was really pleasing for everybody. I’m pleased for the lads because they have put in a real shift.

“I’m pleased for the fans because it is nice to see your team come from behind and snatch a winner in the last minute.

“It was value for the effort that we put in.

“Were we better than Saturday? Yes we were much better. Are there things that we need to work on? There are loads of things that we’ve got to do.

“But the attitude to keep going and pressing and keep asking questions of their back four when we possibly could because they are a good side.

“They (Gateshead) are very efficient at what they do and do the fundamentals really well and to turn it around from 1-0 down to 2-1 was really rewarding tonight.

“Winning a football match has always meant an awful lot to me wherever I’ve been. The game is a passion for me and the journey I’ve started with this football club needs to be with the players, fans, staff and everybody.

“If everybody pulls in one direction, I know for a fact we will improve. There will be ups and downs, twists and turns and I get that but we need it all to pull together.

Slade was seen encouraging his players minutes before the late winner, when asked if he believed his side would score late? Slade added: “Totally, it’s just about mindset and a little bit of belief really.

“We knew in transition they were losing the ball or they might take a risk and that we could find them little pockets, which we did during the match.

“You have got to keep going and persevering and keep believing and we did. Tommy (O’Sullivan) has executed it really well in the end to get the winner.”

After scoring the equaliser and creating the winner Nicholson was named man of the match.

“I’m really pleased for him as he’s a nice lad and a good lad,” added Slade.

“He gives you that little bit of width and that left foot as well that gives you a bit of balance as we didn’t have many left footers in and now we’ve got Jack (Bodenham) in and Nicholson has come up to the plate and has started to deliver in training and that little 20 minute spell he had on Saturday.

“We have a fundamental structure that we play and we like to play too.

“If I can have two strikers on a pitch a nine and a 10 and then we’ll do that. Sometimes it suits to play with that extra midfielder and play with that little more freedom in wide areas to create overloads.

“We did that quite well in particularly with Nicholson who had a couple of very good opportunities in the first half. So certainly deserved his goal tonight.

“He’s gone and built on that.”

Jared Hodgkiss came off with what looks like a groin injury along with Jason Pope and both will be assessed on Wednesday.

Slade said that he will be targeting an FA Cup run and an Edgar Street win on Saturday when Truro City visit.

He added: “Over the years I like a little run in the cup and if they think they’re switching off on Saturday they’re mistaken.

“I will look at the situation with how the squad is with injuries, but I want to win. The basics are that we will want to go into that game and be the winning team.

“Something I said to the players tonight was that it’s not about the 11 it’s about the group. It’s all about the group, we’re not going to win anything with the 11, but with the group we might.”