GRAHAM Turner has got a simple motto for his Hereford United players - play your best and respect your team-mates.

It's worked wonders for the Edgar Street club to date who travel to rivals Chester City today sitting two points clear at the top of the Nationwide Conference.

Captain Tony James believes Turner's philosophy has been instrumental in the Bulls blistering start to the campaign.

"At the end of the day we've had such a great start to the season that Graham Turner has got to be happy with the way things have gone," said James.

"But he's not putting us under any pressure other than for us to do our best, respect each other and play as well as we can for each other.

"He wants us to forget the fact that we are top and just play each game to the best of our ability."

James, as ever, has been leading by example with a string of fine displays but the United skipper has also taken time out to salute West Brom loan signing Tamika Mkandawire who has been deputising in some style for the injured Andy Tretton.

"He's settled in really well, is comfortable on the ball and a good defender," he said.

James, a former trainee at the Hawthorns, has no fears about Mkandawire melting under the intense pressure in Hereford''s top of the table clash at Chester City's Deva Stadium today.

"At the end of the day he's got to have a lot about him if he's at West Brom and he has the ability to match," added James.

While headline writers have gone into overdrive about today's Deva Stadium clash, Turner, as ever, cuts a cool-headed figure among the hullabaloo.

"It's still very early in the season and it's just three points at stake - the same as on offer when we play Leigh RMI in two weeks time," he said.

Hereford's leading scorer Steve Guinan, who has already bagged 11 goals this term, will this afternoon be bidding for a repeat of last year's corresponding fixture when he grabbed a late winner.