HEREFORD manager Josh Gowling says Bulls fans will be the 12th man as they return to Edgar Street for the first time since March.

With Covid-19 restrictions now allowing fans to attend matches in Tier 1 and 2 areas the Bulls will be opening the gates for a limited number of fans to attend their game against AFC Fylde on Saturday.

Hereford will be looking to end a league run of four games without a win.

“Playing at home with our fans should give us a lift," said Gowling.

“I think it gave us a lift against Chester, lads love playing in front of crowds.

"A lot of our lads are used to playing in front of crowds and it gives them that edge.

“I would like to think on Saturday we will have that focus and drive to get a performance in front of crowd.

“They will see some entertaining football I suppose which is a positive thing.

“We just want the fans back. The lads don’t know what this club is like until we have the fans back. I know what they’re like, they will push us on, drive us and it’s going to be a really big lift.

“I know it’s a cliché but it’s the 12th man that we probably need at the moment just to get those concentration levels better.”

In their last four games without a win the Bulls have conceded 11 goals with five of them coming during a 5-3 defeat against Chester on Tuesday night.

The Bulls had led 2-1 at the break before conceding four second half goals which Gowling blamed on individual errors.

“It’s difficult as a defender to get your side structured and things like that happen which is frustrating,” added Gowling talking to Keith Hall.

“So we’re going to have to look at something different maybe looking at our focus levels and things like that in training because the structure of the team is pretty solid.

“In transition we look good and overall if you look at most of the games we have been the best team in those we’ve played.

“But we’ve conceded a lot of goals in two games which are individual errors. It’s not the shape it’s our errors and you can’t legislate for that or necessarily work on that on the training pitch.

“There’s moments of the game when we go missing which is frustrating but we’ve got to work on it.

"I’m looking at every game we’ve faced so far this season and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be undefeated but we are because of these moments so we’ve got to look as a team to put it right.”

Bulls goalkeeper Paul White was at fault for two goals at Chester while contracted goalkeeper Brandon Hall is yet to feature and was on the bench again.

“Brandon has always had a chance to get back in, he’s a part of the squad and has been training with us,” added Gowling.

“At the end of the day when you have a shirt on you’ve got to earn it and keep it.

"I’ve said to the lads in there after today’s performance and conceding five goals, with the squad that the few lads we’ve got we might have to make a change and they might make a difference on Saturday.”

Team news

Kelsey Mooney faces a late fitness test and did not train with the squad on Thursday after having physio work on a slight hamstring niggle.

Yan Klukowski could also come into the Bulls side after coming back from injury and playing the final minutes against Chester on Tuesday night.