HEREFORD United are aiming to get their season back on track with a mouth-watering Carling Cup clash against Coventry City at Edgar Street tonight (7.45).
Graham Turner's side were beaten 3-0 at Barnet in Coca-Cola League Two on Saturday in one of the worst performances the Bulls have produced in recent memory.
But they have the chance to put that right with the first round visit of Micky Adams' Championship outfit featuring Trinidad and Tobago World Cup star Stern John.
Turner said: "Saturday was probably the poorest performance in the last 12 months.
"Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. Barnet out-fought us and out-played us.
"It's certainly nice to get a game so quickly after Saturday's poor performance. It's a challenge and the pressure is off a little bit without the quest for league points."
Manager Turner's assessment of the match was echoed by United coach John Trewick who said: "The performance was disappointing and everyone agrees with that.
"We just had too many players on the day who didn't perform. Once they (Barnet) got the first goal it lifted them and we really never got going."
Turner wants his team to bounce back from the weekend's disappointment by putting in a display to be proud of against former FA Cup winners the Sky Blues.
"It's a very attractive fixture for us and the supporters," the manager said. "The important thing is a good performance.
"We would like to win and beat Coventry but the most important thing is getting back to a good level of performance."
Skipper Tamika Mkandawire is still an injury doubt after sitting out Hereford's games against Chester City and Barnet, while fellow central defender Dean Beckwith is suffering with a dead leg.
United will also make a decision today on Simon Travis after the full-back tweaked a hamstring in the defeat at Underhill.
Left-back Alex Jeannin is also in contention after completing his three-match suspension, despite not being included in Saturday's squad.
Coventry, who sold striker Gary McSheffrey to Birmingham City in a £4million deal earlier this month, have not enjoyed the greatest of starts to their Championship campaign. They have taken just four points from their first four games.
An opening day victory against Sunderland was followed by defeats to Southampton and Cardiff before a 0-0 draw with Midlands rivals Leicester at the weekend.
City defender Marcus Hall said: "I suppose it's a no-win situation because if you win then that is what people expect and if you lose then all hell breaks loose."
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