HEREFORD United stood on the brink of League 1 relegation after falling two goals behind in the first-half at Tranmere.

Hereford’s dire luck with injuries continued.

Skipper Karl Broadhurst was ruled out with injury as was full-back Richard Jackson.

This resulted in Toumani Diagouraga moving to the centre of the defence to play alongside Richard Rose and Sam Gwynne gaining a recall at right-back.

United were also without Manchester United loanee Febian Brandy, bringing a recall for Matt Done.

Hereford’s makeshift defence was in trouble in the early stages with Peter Gulacsi failing to gather a cross and O’Leary doing well to block Anthony Kay’s shot away for a corner.

The home side did not have to wait long for the opener, however, with Ben Chorley hopeful punt over the top perfectly finding the path of Bas Savage who slotted the ball past Gulacsi.

Hereford’s approach work failed to bring anything in the way of goal-chances and mostly the Bulls were pushed backwards.

On 25 minutes, Edrissa Sonko’s shot was deflected for a corner.

From the resulting flag-kick, a neat exchange of passes ended with Charlie Barnett curling in a shot from 15 yards.

It could have been even worse two minutes later when Ryan Shotton got ahead of the Hereford defence from a free-kick but completely missed his header when the goal was gaping in front of him.

Then Gulacsi had to save bravely at the feet of Ian Moore after Savage had got away from the Hereford defence on the right.

Hereford enjoyed a share of possession in midfield but their only serious opportunity of the half came seven minutes before the break.

The Bulls were awarded a free-kick 20 yards out and Marc Pugh’s fierce drive was well saved at the foot of a post by Danny Coyne.

Hereford: Gulacsi; Gwynne, Diagouraga, Rose, Taylor; Pugh, Smith, O’Leary, Done; Guinan, Myrie-Williams. Subs not used: Veiga, MacLeod, d’Agostino, Johnson, Jones.

Tranmere: Coyne, Taylor, Chorley, Goodison, Kay, Savage, Moore, Jennings, Sonko, Barnett, Shotton.

Referee: Nigel Miller (County Durham).

Goals: Savage, 8 min, 1-0; Barnett, 27 min, 2-0;