PREVIEW: Hereford v Luton Town

It’s at Edgar Street where the Bulls have been most impressive this season too, picking up 10 of their 15 points to date.

They started with a 1-1 draw versus Braintree before beating Tamworth and Welling, although their 100 per cent record was ended by a 2-0 defeat against Aldershot.

Martin Foyle’s side bounced back with the victory over the Imps though, a side who had just lost to Hatters too, going down 3-2 at Kenilworth Road.

It’s been off the field matters that have put Bulls in the news this week though as chairman David Keyte declared himself “disappointed” at the £20,000 tribunal fees set for both of the club’s summer departures Ryan Bowman and Sam Clucas.

An FA tribunal on Monday set a fee of £20,000, plus a 15 per cent sell-on clause, for 21-year-old Bowman, last season’s 19-goal Bulls top scorer, who joined League Two side York City in May.

The same price was set for 23-year-old Clucas, who joined Mansfield Town.

Keyte said: “The decisions are inconsistent and confusing. We are disappointed. But we have to accept them and move forwards.”

The Bulls have been trying to strengthen their squad in recent weeks too, bringing in Gateshead forward, and villain to all Town fans, striker Richard Brodie on a month’s loan.

It was a reunion for Brodie with his former York boss Foyle, with whom he became a hate figure for Town fans during their play-off clash at Kenilworth Road.

He has since scored once in four appearances and the move was thanks to the Hereford United Independent Supporters Association for their financial assistance.

Hereford also added utility player Paul Green on loan from Forest Green Rovers for a month, along with borrowing Crewe midfielder Michael West in a similar deal.

They also brought in Eric Odhiambo, formerly of Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Turkish side Denizlispor, to join the likes of Danny Pilkington, Frankie Artus and Rhys Evans, plus a host of others who joined in the summer.

With so many new arrivals, then it was inevitable Hereford would have to move players on with Marley Watkins (Inverness), James McQuilkin (Walsall) and Marlon Jackson (Bury) leaving and the likes of Stefan Stam, Michael Townsend and Brian Smikle among plenty more who were released.

Team news: United will almost certainly be without Michael Rankine, who suffered a reccurrence of his hamstring problem at Halifax last Saturday.

Chris Sharp is also ruled out for two to three weeks after injuring his ankle in training before the game at Halifax, while it is the final game of the initial month’s loan for both Paul Green and Michael West.

Danny Pilkington is, however, back in contention for a place after recovering from a hamstring strain and making a brief substitute appearance against Lincoln.

Hatters are without Jon Shaw (hernia) and Alex Wall (ankle), while Danny Fitzsimons is out for the foreseeable future.

Paul Benson and Alex Lawless are back in training, while Anthony Charles is also available for selection.

Top Skrill scorer - Bulls: Chris Bush, Michael Rankine, Chris Sharp, Sam Smith (2). Hatters: Luke Guttridge, Mark Cullen (4).

Man in the middle: Brett Huxtable - has already shown 23 yellows in his five games so far, including eight last time out as Braintree won 3-2 at Wrexham on Tuesday night.

Displayed 43 yellows in 19 games last season with two reds, and took the 3-1 win for Luton at home to Southport in the league.

Reffed Hereford three times at homes too, a 4-2 over Ebbsfleet, 1-0 defeat to Kidderminster and the 2-2 draw at Southport.

Also sent off former Town defender Alan White during a pre-season friendly for Hatters at Bideford in 2009.

In charge: Martin Foyle - 50-year-old, who was a dangerous striker in his playing days, scoring 155 goals in 533 league games.

Had spells at Aldershot and Oxford, before becoming Port Vale’s then record signing, as he cost £375,000 in 1991, scoring 107 goals, making him the club’s record post-war goalscorer.

Managed the Valiants youth team and in 2004 took charge of first-team affairs, eventually leaving the club in 2007 by mutual consent.

Had a spell as Wrexham caretaker boss, before appointed managed of York City in 2008, leading the Minstermen to an FA Trophy Final and Conference play-off final until he resigned in September 2010.

Was then boss of Northwich Victoria for a three-month spell in February 2012 before being appointed manager at Hereford United in May.

View from the oppostion: Chris Bush (speaking to the Hereford Times): “Hopefully, the Lincoln game has sent a message out to the fans to say that we are playing good football, working hard and putting our bodies on the line for the club.

“When Luton come down on Saturday, we’ll be aiming to give the same sort of performance that we have over the last couple of games.”

Average home crowd: Bulls: 1,734. Luton: 6,336.

One to watch: Richard Brodie - 27-year-old forward who is well known to Luton fans from his time at York City.

Moved to Gateshead in the summer, scoring twice in seven games, before joining Hereford on a one month loan deal, where he has scored once so far.

Always found a route to goal during his career as Brodie finished joint top Conference top scorer with 26 goals for York in 2009-10.

Friendly faces: Attacker Dan Walker was used mainly as a substitute at Luton, playing 36 times in total and scoring five goals, as he was loaned out a number of times during his time at Kenilworth Road.

Released in the summer and joined Hereford where he scored on his debut in the 1-1 draw with Braintree and has made 11 appearances so far, with nine starts.

Defender Luke Graham was loaned to Luton from Kettering in January 2011, staying for six months, but didn’t feature much.

In total, he made 14 games and netted one goal, that a late winner against Gloucester City in the FA Trophy.

Went to Forest Green on a free and then joined Hereford in July 2012, where he has since made over 50 appearances.

Started every league game for the Bulls this term, netting in the 2-0 win at Chester.

We’ve got form: Hatters have only travelled to Edgar Street twice in their history, losing 1-0 last season, while their oher visit was a Division Two clash in March 1977.

That time they emerged 1-0 winners thanks to a goal from Ron Futcher.

Last time out: Hatters could count themselves massively unlucky to finish on the wrong end of a 1-0 defeat at Edgar Street last season.

Hatters had bossed the majority of the game, with Jonathan Smith making his debut, but they just couldn’t find a way past some last-gasp Hereford defending.

Winger James McQuilkin scored the only goal of the match, cutting in from the right and firing an unstoppable effort past Dean Brill.

Hatters: Dean Brill, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner (JJ O’Donnell 85), Janos Kovacs (Alex Lawless 70), Jake Howells, Simon Ainge, Ronnie Henry, Arnaud Mendy, Jonathan Smith, Scott Rendell, Stuart Fleetwood, Andre Gray (Jake Robinson 70).

Subs not used: Mark Tyler, Dan Walker.

Attendance: 2,108.

Ticket details: The game is pay on the day for Town supporters and Luton have been given an allocation of 890 terrace spaces and 469 covered seats.

Seating prices are £17 for adults, £14 for O65s and 15-20-year-olds and £5 for U15s.

Terrace prices meanwhile, are £14, £10 and £3.

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