HEREFORD manager Russell Slade said his side let the fans down during their 5-1 defeat at Altrincham.

The defeat was Hereford’s fourth in five games and followed Tuesday night’s 2-1 loss at home to Alfreton.

Some 192 traveling Bulls fans made the trip to Cheshire for the defeat.

“It was certainly not good enough and I was so disappointed because we started the game so well in the first 15 to 20 minutes when we could have gone one in front,” said Slade.

“There’s not a strong enough mentality because the moment they get a goal it seemed to knock the stuffing out of us and the energy out of us.

“We needed half-time at 2-0 to try and regroup, which we did, and then the start of the second half we started okay but couldn’t keep it going.

“We managed to get a goal but that was when we were three down. In both boxes simply not good enough.

“I’ve asked the players two players because at the end of the day they are a reflection on me and what I’m trying to go for the football club.

“At the minute we are letting the football club down and the fans down. They need to be honest enough whether they can give what is required week in and week out, not just for 20 minutes, for 40 odd games are you good enough? Are you going to give us what we require?

“Ask yourself and be honest, that’s the same for me. The second thing is: If that answer is yes, I’m definitely the man for the job, then what are we going to change? Because we can’t keep doing this away from home.

“Where we go a goal down or two goals down and we can’t recover. We’ve conceded far too many goals on the road and that needs to stop. We’re not giving ourselves a chance to stay in the game and that’s disappointing because at times we have got quality, but we need to be ruthless with it.

The Bulls had started brightly with Tommy O’Sullivan, returning from a one match suspension, rattling the post in the opening minutes.

O’Sullivan then saw his free-kick palmed into the path of Jason Pope who could only find the side-netting with the goal at his mercy.

After weathering the early Bulls attack the hosts came back and Jordan Hulme sneaked into the box and beat Brandon Hall but not defender Jack Bodenham, who cleared off the line.

Altrincham then shocked the Bulls with two goals in as many minutes.

Firstly, a corner was flicked on for defender Tom Hannigan to fire home on 26 minutes.

Then two minutes later a quick break saw the ball played into the box for Jordan Hulme to finish smartly.

The game could have been over after just 32 minutes as Altrincham again broke, but this time Hulme was denied by the bar.

The Bulls started the second half better and Peter Vincenti sent his effort inside the box wide.

However, just as the Bulls looked to be on top Altrincham struck a killer blow.

After a quick break down the left Hulme tried his luck at goal which went through the gasp of Hall on 57 minutes.

Moments later Hall redeemed himself for his error saving well from a close-range volley.

With 63 minutes on the clock the Bulls pulled themselves back into the tie when substitute Tom Owen-Evans' free-kick was nodded down by Josh Gowling into the path of Peter Vincenti.

However, two minutes later Alty restored their three-goal lead after Gowling's pass was closed down and the ball was squared for Hulme for his hat-trick.

On the 65th minute Altrincham made it five with full-back Shaun Densmore volleying home after a flicked ball over the top.

“I don’t think he (the goalkeeper) would have got near Tommy O’Sullivan’s he just watched that and that was a little bit unlucky,” added Slade.

“(Jason) Pope followed up one and had a great chance as well. Josh (Gowling) had a firm header that might go in the back of the net in the second period as well.

“Look we’re creating, we need to create more, more consistent with it and we need to be finishing, we need to be ruthless. Whilst that process is going on we need to be defending and make it very difficult not to concede.

“It was a worry every time the ball went forward, down the side and into the box it was a worry.”

Kieron Thomas was the latest name added to the Bulls injury list along with Mike Symons, who both picked up knocks in Tuesday’s defeat.

“It was not easy because we have a few players missing,” added Slade.

“(Jason) Pope is a bit of a utility player, he slotted in at right-back for us today. Jack (Bodenham’s) best position probably is centre-half and he would want to play there but he’s doing a job for the team.

“We have got (Danny) Greenslade on the bench and (Jared) Hodgkiss struggling as well. We have got players to come back but it’s still an opportunity for whoever is putting that shirt on to go and show them that they want to play next week.

“There wasn’t too many there telling me, listen Mr Manager I want to be in your plans next week and after because they want to move forwards with this club.

When asked what the latest is with Kieran Thomas, Slade added: “He’s got a hamstring which he picked up in the game on Tuesday night so wasn’t worth risking.

“Normally with a Grade One hamstring they say about 10 days or something like that. He will have a chance for Saturday but we will see.

“Jared (Hodgkiss) with that ankle wasn’t worth risking which was disappointing. We’ve missed a few players who will feel they could have done better and maybe helped the team.”