THEY say the next game is always the most important one, in football.

But in Colchester United’s case, it seems as though actually, the outcome of their next two matches may well be particularly significant, in the context of their season.

The U’s will head to third-from-bottom Stevenage on Tuesday desperate to get back to winning ways, following a run of seven-game winless run in League Two. They then host sixth-from-bottom side Scunthorpe United, three days later.

We might only be at the midway point in the season but by around 9pm next Friday night, Colchester’s destiny in this most unusual of seasons might well become somewhat clearer.

Needless to say, they need to get out of the rut that they now find themselves in – and quickly.

Let’s be honest, there’s been little for U’s fans to cheer about, of late.

Recent results have been pretty miserable for club and supporters alike.

The reality is that Steve Ball’s side are now 15th – seven points off the play-off positions - and have not won since December 8.

As strange as it may sound, the poor run has been compounded somewhat by the fact that fans have been unable to watch their side’s decline down the table with games being played behind closed doors, instead having to do so on computer screens...or behind sofas.

Results are all important, in football and there is no hiding away from the fact that they have not been good enough, of late.

But teams do go through bad spells.

Like the U’s, Cheltenham – who like Colchester reached last season’s League Two play-offs – have not won in seven league matches.

Ditto for Newport County, who lie third in the table.

That said, the U’s need to quickly get back to winning ways.

Despite the results, Colchester’s performances in their last three matches - all against top-seven clubs - have not been too bad.

They were the better side at Morecambe in the first half, hitting the woodwork twice and playing some good attacking football.

Had the U’s scored before the break, it might have been very different.

But conceding on the stroke of half-time seemed to affect them mentally in the second half and at the same time, lift their opponents.

Confidence – or a lack of it – does seem to be an issue with the U’s at present.

And that is logical, given that they have gone from a sequence of losing only one in eight matches prior to losing at Cambridge on December 15 to a seven-match winless run.

A lack of goals has definitely played a part in that sequence.

Colchester have managed to score more than one goal in a game only once in their last 12 matches, the 2-1 victory over Grimsby Town on December 5.

With only four goals to show for their attacking efforts in their last seven games, it’s clear to see that the U’s are not finding the net with enough regularity.

And if you’re not scoring, you’re not winning.

Colchester are hoping that the arrival of QPR loanee Aramide Oteh will help to improve that situation.

But the departure of Luke Norris – who could face the U’s at Stevenage on Tuesday night – has deprived the U’s of their only experienced out-and-out striker.

Some fans are unhappy that they have not replaced Norris with another experienced striker like Theo Robinson, in the transfer window.

But chairman Robbie Cowling has said there is unlikely to be any further business in the window

"We have a strong squad with some key players returning to fitness. I appreciate some of you will be disappointed with that news and I understand your frustrations but we are in a good place considering the challenges we have faced and most importantly, we will still be in a reasonable place when we eventually return to more normal times,” the U’s supremo said.

In these testing times, the books have to be balanced.

Other League Two clubs may be choosing to tread a different path this season, perhaps with a view to the salary cap being introduced next season.

But ultimately, ensuring that there is still a football club in existence at the end of all of this should surely be the most important thing?

On the pitch, things are more pressing.

There are still plenty of points to play for but after collecting three points from a possible 21 in their last seven games, the outcome of Colchester’s forthcoming games suddenly seems more important than ever.