HEREFORD United aim for their fourth consecutive clean sheet on the road at Halifax Town.

Strong performances in defence have laid solid foundations for recent victories at Tamworth and Crawley, in which the Bulls posted shut-outs, as well as a draw at Stevenage.

United came within a whisker of registering a fifth clean sheet on the bounce on Tuesday night, until Bobby Bowry grabbed a late equaliser for Gravesend in the 1-1 draw.

It was the first goal conceded by Hereford in 448 minutes of football, but the Kent visitors deserved a share of the spoils after sustained pressure.

United missed good chances to double their advantage following Craig Stanley's second-half strike.

And Bulls' coach John Trewick admitted scoring is becoming something of a quandary.

"We need to score more goals and everybody understands that," said Trewick. "But we have got it right defensively and that is important. Every successful team base their achievement on having a sound and solid base, like Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United.

"At the back, had we picked up five clean sheets it would have been a fantastic achievement. Keeping four is still good.

"We have the foundations right so people like Guy Ipoua and Adam Stansfield can then score goals and win us games.

"Gravesend scored late on from a corner and that was disappointing. We took the game to them for the first hour and deservedly took the lead.

"But after scoring we, possibly sub-consciously, sat back and allowed them too much possession and too many attacking moments. We allowed too many corners and their goal came from a corner when the player smashed the ball through a number of bodies."

Ryan Green returned from a three-game ban and slotted in at right wing-back, allowing Rob Purdie to replace Jon Brady in attack.

Purdie is expected to keep his place at the Shay with injured forward pair Ipoua and Stansfield still on the sidelines.

Stansfield is to see a specialist on his groin injury, midfielder Stacy Coldicott is training at Lilleshall to improve a back injury and Simon Travis is training again.

Trewick added: "Rob has played up front for us before. He worked very hard on Tuesday night and played a big part in creating the goal. It was a smashing pass to Ryan Green who crossed it for Craig Stanley to finish. It was good to have Ryan back at right wing-back.

"Halifax are a good side and they were a good side last year too. We know going up there it is going to be a tough match."