In the build-up to Colchester United’s big game against Spurs, manager Kevin Keen had spoken of the need to have a little luck on your side in the FA Cup.

So when the U’s suffered the misfortune of losing half of their defence to injury with barely a quarter of their fourth-round tie gone, the U’s boss must have been wondering if he had walked under a ladder or run over a black cat.

The sickening collision between Colchester team-mates Alex Wynter and Tom Eastman in the opening few minutes, which led to both players eventually being withdrawn from the action, forced the home side to play with ten men for some time.

It also forced Keen into two early substitutions he had not foreseen and left the U’s remaining players on the field feeling somewhat shell-shocked.

Of course, everyone’s thoughts were with the injured U’s duo and in particular Wynter, who looked in a bad way before he was eventually stretchered off the field and taken to Colchester General Hospital.

It was indeed rotten luck for the U’s defender, who had gone into the game as Colchester’s most in-form player and had been relishing the challenge of taking on the likes of Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen.

We spoke to Alex last week about the game and his enthusiasm for playing against Premier League side Tottenham came across; it's good news that he's now at home and on the mend.

Of course, that was not the only piece of ill-fortune Colchester experienced.

Eric Dier’s shot for Spurs’ second goal, which rather knocked the stuffing out of Colchester, might not have gone in had it not struck the unfortunate Matt Briggs and looped into the net.

And later in the tie, Colchester substitute Marvin Sordell was left cursing the woodwork after his effort hit the far post after he had burst through on goal.

That’s not to say that Spurs were not the better side overall – they were.

And the North London side also hit the woodwork twice themselves, along with creating countless chances.

Nevertheless, the real pity – aside from Wynter’s welfare which comes way before the outcome of any football match – is that Colchester will now never know how they would have done had their centre-halves both stayed on the pitch.

That is no disrespect to Briggs and Frankie Kent, whose performances were one of the many positives to come out of the game for the U’s.

Indeed, Kent’s fantastic first-half challenge on England striker Harry Kane was one that resembled that of the great Bobby Moore in his pomp.

But the disruption – and shock – Wynter’s injury caused was something that Colchester never truly recovered from, despite their brave and spirited effort.

Now, after all of the excitement of playing against Spurs in front of a full-house and doing themselves proud, Colchester must quickly refocus their thoughts on their League One survival battle.

If they can produce the same kind of character and pride in their performances in their remaining 18 league matches as they did against Spurs, they will give themselves a fighting chance of staying up – hopefully with a little bit of luck along the way.