Given their Houdini-like behaviour of recent seasons, it would perhaps be unwise to write Colchester United’s survival chances off just yet.

But even the most optimistic U’s supporter must surely be feeling concerned about the possibility of them staying in League One, given their current predicament.

Colchester defender Frankie Kent, whose performance was one of the main positives to come out of the disappointing 3-0 derby defeat at Southend United, feels that taking maximum points from their forthcoming back-to-back home games against Swindon Town and Chesterfield is a must.

It is hard to disagree with him.

Colchester are eight points adrift of safety with 17 games remaining and with a goal difference inferior to any other team in the division.

Much of the reason for that is due to the U’s inability to keep sides out and while manager Kevin Keen has helped to make his side look more solid in that area, they are still conceding goals.

A competent defensive performance, much of which was produced with only ten men, was ultimately undermined by three late goals at Roots Hall.

Indeed, Colchester have conceded ten times in their last three matches, although four of those goals were scored by an in-form Tottenham Hotspur side in the FA Cup.

Keen has not been helped by Alex Wynter’s injury in that tie; he was a player in form when he suffered the setback and it forced the U’s manager to install yet another central defensive partnership.

It is not as if Colchester have been firing in the goals at the other end, either.

In Keen’s nine games in charge, the U’s have managed to hit the net just six times and three of those goals were scored in the FA Cup; two have been own goals.

This weekend, Colchester host a Swindon side who themselves are goal-shy at the moment, having gone nearly five hours without hitting the net.

Keen insists the U’s will get over the mountain they have to climb; they will have to begin their ascent soon if they are not to run out of time.