WHEN we were flying high in the Championship I remember thinking we should enjoy every day of the good times, as they won’t last for ever. They certainly didn’t, and it now feels that we are stuck in the bad times, and nobody knows if there is even worse yet to come.

The trick is to not get too high or too low but it still feels like it’s been a long week. We went into the Crewe Alexandra game last Saturday with high expectations following a win and a draw against Orient and Bradford City.

To lose to Crewe was a kick in the teeth and a reverse of the fixture at Crewe in October. On that afternoon we caught them at a good time, but last weekend the roles were reversed and we never looked like winning.

On paper the remaining February fixtures are as tough as it gets. We are in the middle of a sequence of five games which will stretch the squad. It is a lot to expect from the youthful and inexperienced players that are having to bear the brunt of the fixtures. If they cope with it mentally and physically, brilliant, but is that a realistic expectation?

At the moment the youngsters need the support of every fan, particularly at home games. It’s a lot to ask, given our recent home record. It is the points that we have thrown points away at home which is what puts us in the position we are in.

It seems we are dependent on the players we saw against Crewe and Sheffield United, with one or two possible additions, to get us out of trouble. They are good characters. With support, they stand a chance. Without support, we are sunk.

I wish all fans could have been at Sheffield to see the seven chances we created, against which our hosts created five. Make of that what you will, but it is a fact. The balance of the game was encouraging, but the goals and the result were a killer for everyone.

We need Alex Gilbey and George Moncur back from illness and injury, to relieve some of the pressure on midfield. It’s not reasonable to expect our two 19-year-olds currently in the middle to play five crucial and tough games between February 7 and 21. With two more experienced players in the mix, we should be stronger and more competitive.

Once we are into March our fixtures appear more winnable. It does look like an uphill struggle, but this is no time for anyone to be bailing out. The way I see it, February is about battling like hell to keep within touch, and if there is a recovery it will come in March.

Every time that we have played Sheffield United in recent years I have visited the Golden Lion, a rough little backstreet pub near Bramall Lane, full of genuine and funny Blades fans and their Northern humour. It’s become a habit!

I called on Tuesday night before the game and spoke to a couple of U’s fans who had travelled up on the Supporters’ Association bus. They said that opinion on the bus was that the team need backing like never before. Sometimes it’s only the loudest voices that are heard so it’s good to hear a different view.

Relegation would be a dreadful blow for the club with no silver lining. It would affect the reputation, the credibility, and the self-image of the club. It is easier to stay in League One than it is to get out of League Two, therefore more than ever it is a question of doing whatever is necessary to stay up.