Boss Martin Allen has admitted he is baffled by Cheltenham Town's inability to hold on to leads, after their Coca-Cola League One survival hopes suffered a crushing blow against Hereford United.

The Robins led a pulsating relegation battle with their local rivals 2-1 with 24 minutes to go, before the all-too-familiar spectre of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory returned to haunt them yet again. They had Lee Ridley sent off late on for dissent and the 3-2 defeat leaves them needing to make up nine points on their rivals to climb out of the drop zone, with 18 matches remaining.

"The hardest things to take is the manner of the defeats and if we were getting well beaten, out-fought, out-passed and out-played I'd have a big problem, but I don't see that," Allen said.

"My players don't give up and they go at it from start to finish, giving all they can.

"They don't let their heads go down and they will keep bouncing back. There will be no let up, no respite, no sulking, sadness or moods.

"The courage and commitment is there, but we made costly errors and I am bitterly disappointed."

Allen has shown anger after previous defeats, but he was noticeably forlorn and deflated after Saturday's setback, which leaves his side needing an incredible turnaround to stay up.

The bemused manager admitted he has found his side's winless run of 10 matches difficult to come to terms with.

"It does affect me because I absolutely hate losing," he added. "I hated it as a player and in my seven years as a manager or coach, my teams have always been hard to beat, so this is hurting me.

"I haven't been a loser since I was eight years old and I played park football in Reading, but what do you do?

"Do you pull the curtains, shut the door and not speak to anybody, or do you stand up, learn and take responsibility? I won't cower in the corner."

Rock-bottom Cheltenham travel to Stockport County on Tuesday night before making their second visit to Leeds United on Saturday.

Shane Duff and Lloyd Owusu both have lower back problems, while winger Nicholas Bignall has an eye injury and is likely to return to Reading now his initial month's loan period is over.

Alex Russell suffered a lower leg injury during the warm-up but managed to get through 90 minutes against Hereford.

Cheltenham's Whaddon Road ground is set to be named after a company. A local company with a long association with the club is in negotiations over a sponsorship deal.