LETHARGIC Hereford United must shrug off recent disappointments to put their Nationwide Conference campaign back on track says manager Graham Turner.

The Bulls entertain Margate at Edgar Street tomorrow looking to rediscover their league form following a below-par defeat at Accrington Stanley on Tuesday night.

FA Cup and LDV Vans exits to Peterborough and North-ampton respectively have also affected Turner's side.

With Hereford slipping to fourth in the table behind new leaders Chester and without a league win since the 5-1 victory at Northwich on October 7, Turner recognises the importance of achieving a good result against the Kent side tomorrow.

"It's a big one and we need to get back to the level of performance we have come to expect this season," said Turner.

"The performance wasn't bad against Northampton and was reasonable and more than acceptable at Peterborough but on Tuesday at Accrington we just didn't play.

"Accrington didn't have many chances and the few we had we failed to take but in general the play just wasn't there.

"We were missing Ben Smith in the midfield but it was a lethargic team performance.

"As a manager you look for reasons for that and we had a good session yesterday and talked to the players to just assess the situation.

"Without making excuses it's been a hard programme lately with extra-time and penalties against Northampton and a difficult cup match at Peterborough, both matches where we thought we deserved better.

"The physical and mental effects of two real setbacks can't be underestimated and it effects your confidence but now we've got to recover."

Margate are 16th in the division but despite their lowly status have proved to be difficult customers away from home with just two defeats out of nine.

"Margate will come to defend in numbers and we know they play with two markers and a sweeper," added Turner.

"They will shore it up at the back but we have to be bright enough, particularly early in the game, to break them down."

Hereford will be without suspended midfielder Jamie Pitman, who is serving a one-match ban for his dismissal in the 1-0 home defeat against Leigh RMI a fortnight ago.

Jordan King and Rob Purdie come into contention for Pitman's midfield role while Smith, who fell ill with 'flu on the trip to Accrington, should be available.

Margate for their part will be hoping for a change of luck following a bizarre home game against Woking in midweek when they lost 2-1, scoring two own goals with the unfortunate Sam Sodje notching an unwanted winner.

Hereford's trip to Scarborough on December 6 has been postponed as their opponents are involved in the FA Cup.

FORMCAST: Bulls to bounce back 2-0.