HEREFORD manager Josh Gowling says his side got the fundamentals right in their 1-1 draw at Alfreton Town.

Alfreton took an early lead through a Bailey Hobson goal but the Bulls replied through Ryan McLean and had a chance to win the tie late through Jack Price.

“It was character,” said Gowling.

“A lot of teams have come unstuck here, the way they play, they put ball into the box with long throws.

“Any opportunity that they get to put it in the box they do, they’ve got Matt Rhead who has been around a long time and is a threat.

“We want to come here and win, but to a man I was pleased. We picked up second balls well and won a lot of first contacts. I was pleased overall to come off the back of two 3-1 losses and come here which is a tough place.

“The two losses we’ve not done the fundamentals right but we’ve done that today. We .just missed the final pass at times, it’s just those little details.

“You want to pick points up on the road and we’ve done that.”

After suffering two defeats over the Bank Holiday weekend the Bulls could have crumbled on the sixth minute as Hobson put the hosts ahead striking the ball through a crowded penalty box.

“We spoke about not getting sucked in and I think Ryan (McLean) has got sucked in and they’ve ended up scoring from it,” added Gowling.

“That’s the way it is at the moment. In 10 games time he shoots and it goes for a goal-kick but at the moment any shots that happens seems to go in.

“That’s just the way it is and it will change during the season. Credit to the lads they stuck to their task, didn’t put their heads down but got on with it. Ryan (McLean) scored and had another great opportunity in the first half.”

Gowling made five changes from the side that lost at Gloucester. Two were enforced with an injury to Brad Wade and fitness issues with Aaron Amadi-Holloway.

Orrin Pendley made his first start at centre-half and Luke Haines moved into midfield, while Kane Thompson-Sommers was also back in.

“We looked in the middle of the park and we lost a few too many battles in there (against Gloucester),” added Gowling.

“Bringing Luke (Haines) in there gives us a bit more solidity in there and makes us a bit more solid. A game like this we though Orin (Pendley) would be perfect against Matt (Rhead), he likes it rough and tough.

“He likes the physical battle and he did that perfectly today. When you come up against somebody like Matt (Rhead) there’s not many players like him in this league, he uses his body well and I thought they stuck to the battle. Overall we wanted a real solid defensive performance and we did that.”