EVER the optimist, I have been confidently predicting that the U’s will climb away from the foot of the table over the next couple of months, even voicing that opinion shortly before the game at Roots Hall last Saturday.

A couple of hours later, and I wasn’t quite so sure. Not to the point where I think that we are going down, but more towards the view that without strong reinforcement, we look like going down.

Why the change of view? Simply because we had again played reasonably well at Southend in very difficult circumstances, but still lost.

We matched Southend for most of 80 minutes, even when down to ten men, but saw our efforts denied in the last ten minutes.

We lacked edge up front, there was no doubt about that, and ultimately conceded three quick goals in eight minutes (a al Scunthorpe), but there really wasn’t much between the sides for much of the game and over much of the pitch.

Admittedly, their strength off the bench was decisive, and an indication of the depth of their squad.

Alex Gilbey’s sending off was a real blow to the side, and a decisive lift to Southend. If ever there was a time and a place not to risk a red card, Alex chose it.

The referee flourished the red card faster than the speed of light, and the whole feel of the game changed in an instant.

We adjusted immediately, putting George Moncur into a little ‘betwixt and between’ position, Chris Porter lost his support player, and even the monumental shift he put in couldn’t make up for it.

Chris was quite rough of his treatment of Gilbey as the players were milling around after the red card, and I wonder if he immediately realised just how damaging it was.

We had some good spells and battled gallantly until the 81st minute when substitute Anthony Wordsworth skidded one past Elliot Parish to break our hearts.

More were to follow, as two even worse goals found their way into our net to give the final scoreline an unjust look. There were some bright spots in our performance, with Joe Edwards catching the eye.

He desperately needs to follow up the performance to finally get his season flowing.

Someone needs to step forward and be a hero, and Edwards’ determination made him look like a contender.

Where we really need some heroes to emerge is in the back four, and there were encouraging signs at Southend until the not-so-grand finale. Looking ahead, though and the re’ll be opportunities to pick up points at home to Swindon tomorrow, and Chesterfield on Tuesday.

We are still in February, but our position makes these high pressure games of vital importance.

With Alex Gilbey suspended we will see some changes, and the hope that a shuffled pack that will bring with it a change of fortune.