Hereford United captain Karl Broadhurst admits a slow start to the second half cost his side dearly in the 2-1 home defeat by Scunthorpe on Saturday.

Nick Chadwick fired the Bulls into the lead but Scunthorpe battled back to leave Hereford bottom of the table with four points from a possible 21.

"We knew that they would start well in the second half and we didn't really," he told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"We paid the price for that with two sloppy goals from our point of view."

Hereford more than played their part in a lively first period, but Scunthorpe always looked dangerous on the break.

Sam Togwell put the Iron back on level terms eight minutes after the interval, but it was left to Gary Hooper to score the winner five minutes later.

Hooper became an instant hero with the Hereford supporters last season when he scored 11 goals in a loan spell at Edgar Street and he underlined his ability by calmly netting the winner.

Games come thick and fast and before you know it you will be beyond Christmas and you are struggling for games to get the extra points that you need Hereford captain Karl Broadhurst

Broadhurst admitted that one of the main frustrations is that the Bulls are losing out by the odd goal in almost every match that they have played.

"It's kind of hard to take on the chin but it's a long season and we have said that we have just got to stick together and get it right as soon as possible," he said.

"Games come thick and fast and before you know it you will be beyond Christmas and you are struggling for games to get the extra points that you need."

This game marked Broadhurst's return to the United squad after a dislocated shoulder had kept him out of the early part of the campaign.

It is not promising to get a lot easier for the Edgar Street club who will next be in action on Saturday, 27 September when they will take on Leeds United at Elland Road.

BBC Hereford and Worcester will carry full commentary on Leeds v Hereford on Saturday on 94.7 FM as part of Sport on Saturday.