Sunday 7 August 2011 18:09, UK
Hereford manager Jamie Pitman was left to reflect on his side's 1-0 defeat at Southend in the first game of the season.
Pitman felt his charges started slowly at Roots Hall and were far too tentative, paying the price after 13 minutes as Bilel Mohsni headed home what proved to be the only goal from Ryan Hall's cross. The Bulls improved after the break but it was not enough to prevent a 10th successive defeat to the Shrimpers. "First half we were poor, we never really got near anyone, whether that was first-day nerves or whatever you can put it down to, there's no excuses for that," Pitman told BBC Hereford and Worcester. "But second half, when we got near people and closer, worked them, then we competed more so than not. We just needed a little bit better cutting edge at the end to maybe create a chance or two. "But they defended well to be fair, they came under a bit of pressure and got some great blocks in and we had to do the same on one or two occasions in the second half. We were probably the better side in the second half, they were in the first half."