It was a painful welcome present as League Two quickly left its mark on Marcel Seip.

The Dutchman’s first taste of life at the bottom came with a mighty whack in the chops.

Seip suffered a broken nose and black eye in a clash with Hereford striker Nathan Elder. If he needed any reminding that there was no respect for reputations, that blow at Edgar Street was the proof.

He spent the following week nursing the war wounds from his initiation.

“Of course there’s a difference with the Championship and League One,” said Seip. “You only had to look at me after I got my first elbow – that’s what it is like.

“But there are still good teams out there who like to pass it.

“You just have to be man enough and say we need to pass the ball and play our own game. We have to learn not to get dragged down and go along with the way that others play.

“Teams will try to make you do it a certain way because that’s the way they always play. They’ll probably be better at it because they do it every week.”

Hereford was his first appearance in eight months since playing in Plymouth’s 4-0 hammering at Brighton in February.

Three games on and Seip has quickly established himself in the heart of the City rearguard.

Andrew Davies may be free from suspension tomorrow but don’t expect the warrior from Winschoten to be stepping aside.

Having come in from the wilderness following a difficult end to his five years with Plymouth, time is of the essence.

Seip, on a short-term contract at Valley Parade until January, knows that every minute counts.

“It took ages to get a deal signed while we were discussing it. I’d been here training for a while.

“It wasn’t just me saying that I wanted (a contract for only) three months. I was happy to sign until the end of the season.

“But the club said they only had a budget up until Christmas and they couldn’t do it any other way. This was the deal that came out of it and I’m just happy I got something.

“Whether it’s three months, a year or two years, I’m back to playing games again and we’ll see how it goes from there.

“If I play well, then hopefully Bradford will want to keep me longer. But first it’s down to me to do that.”

Seip’s relief at playing again is obvious after the stresses of crisis-hit Home Park.

As Phil Parkinson said when he first arrived, the former Plymouth man can turn all his attention to football rather than the politics hovering in the background.

He added: “The last couple of seasons at Plymouth were disappointing.

“They are still in administration now so there’s a lot happening off the pitch.

“It’s been difficult dealing with that. It affects your game and your happiness when you are thinking about things not just on the pitch but off it as well.

“When you’re happy, you play well most of the time. I hadn’t played for a while and that’s why I am delighted to be here.

“Now we just need to get some wins in and I think we’ve got the team to do it.”