HEREFORD United manager Martin Foyle has challenged his players to steal a march on their early-season rivals by climbing into the play-offs with victory over Aldershot tonight (7.45).

The 10th-placed Bulls can jump into the Skrill Premier top five with success at Edgar Street and many teams not playing until tomorrow.

They are up against a bottom-of-the-table outfit who have already made up their 10-point deficit for going into administration with three wins and a draw from the first seven games.

Foyle was critical of his players in the aftermath of last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Gateshead but has reviewed his stance in the cold light of day.

He admits there is room for improvement but reckons the filip of being in the top five should be enough motivation for his side.

“There is a lot to work on but if we win tonight we are back in the play-offs zone so there is plenty to play for,” Foyle said.

“I am sometimes a bit harsh because you get interviewed straight after the game and sometimes you need to analyse a bit more.

“Gateshead didn’t have a shot for 30 minutes until one of my full-backs fell asleep.

“I thought we were very good after the break and could have equalised.

“We need to keep greater care of the ball. We are winning it back and then giving it away too cheaply.”

Hereford are still without midfielders Danny Pilkington (hamstring) and Josh O’Keefe (broken arm), while Kingsley James has only just returned to training after a hamstring problem.

The casualty list was not helped by three players picking up knocks in Tuesday’s 1-0 friendly defeat to Bristol City.

Midfielders Frankie Artus and Sam Gwynne (both ankle) and full-back Joel Edwards (back) will need fitness tests.