THE gap was eight points, a fortnight ago.

Now it is just three.

While the margin between Colchester United and the bottom two is receding, their relegation fears are growing.

And make no mistake, the U’s are embroiled in a League Two survival battle for a second successive season.

Colchester’s visit to promotion-chasing Northampton Town, who sit third in the table and have now kept 16 clean sheets this season, was always going to be a tough task.

And realistically, it is not these games that will ultimately determine the U’s fate.

But after a run of one defeat in six under interim boss Wayne Brown and impressive away wins at Salford City and Leyton Orient under his management, fans might have been forgiven that a positive result might have been possible at Sixfields.

Sadly, it did not happen.

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And while a 3-0 defeat was perhaps harsh on a U’s side who had the greater share of the possession in the game and played well in patches, a home win was nevertheless a fair outcome.

Northampton’s quality was there to see but Colchester did not make it easy for themselves.

To concede so softly early on in the game from a corner against one of the division’s set-piece specialists was disappointing, to say the least.

And while Northampton’s second goal was a well-worked effort taken superbly by Sam Hoskins, the U’s allowed their hosts far too much room to create it.

Substitute Benny Ashley-Seal’s stoppage-time strike came at a time when the U’s were pushing forward and leaving gaps but it was nevertheless another disappointing goal to concede.

No wonder Brown called his side’s defending ‘criminal’ afterwards.

Colchester were ineffective at the other end of the pitch, too.

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This was the first time the U’s have failed to score under Brown.

But they lacked a cutting edge at Northampton.

And when a side have problems in both defence and attack, the alarm bells start ringing.

Colchester will insist they will not be looking at the teams around them and merely focused on their own predicament – and how to get out of it.

But Oldham’s revival under John Sheridan is a worry for U’s fans, after they climbed out of the relegation zone at the expense of Carlisle United with a crucial 2-0 triumph over Bradford City.

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The Latics’ visit to North Essex next weekend promises to be a pivotal one for both sides, in their battle for survival.

But first the U’s must focus on their home clash with Hartlepool United on Tuesday night, the first of four successive home games for Colchester.

All of them are crucial.

Having failed to muster a win at the JobServe Community Stadium since November, the U’s must somehow find a way of turning their form at the stadium around – and fast.