Colchester United boss John McGreal admits that “the play-offs are looking a bit distant,” but he is not giving up hope of his team pulling out all the stops to gate-crash the top seven.
Back-to-back 1-0 defeats at the hands of two relegation candidates, in Crewe and Barnet, have seen the Essex club to slip to seven points behind the League Two play-off zone.
Another slip-up, against another relegation-haunted team in Morecambe this Saturday, would surely kill off the U’s chances of promotion.
But McGreal is hoping for a response from his side, at the Globe Arena.
“We haven’t produced in the last two games, not even with the points,” explained McGreal.
“The play-offs are looking a bit distant, but you look at the results from over the weekend – there were some freaky results (wins for the bottom five clubs).
“It’s a setback, because we have lost two games.
“But we want to try and get in the play-offs. We are a club trying to move forward.
“We put ourselves in a great position so early on, with 13 games left (within three points of the top seven), and it’s now down to 11 games.
“The club is not going to get relegated. We’ve got one big thing we’re looking out for, which is getting in the play-offs.
“We still believe we can do it, that’s why had a long chat in the dressing room (after the Barnet defeat).
“A few home truths were said in there, at the end of the match.
- ‘There’s no dressing it up’ - John McGreal
“We’ve got to get the fans believing in it as well, because no doubt about it we have put in two poor performances, and not deserved any points.
“It was good chat, a healthy one, and we want to take that into those last 11 games. We need a win as soon as we can, then I’m sure others will follow.
“We still feel we have got something to play for this season.
“I’m hoping for a reaction this weekend,” added McGreal, with reference to the trip to the Lancashire coast.
This Saturday’s hosts, Morecambe, enjoyed a surprise 4-2 win away at top-three side Wycombe Wanderers last Saturday, although the Shrimps are still only five points and a couple of places clear of the relegation zone.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here