We must try and win all of our remaining games

IT’S certainly a big game for us against Barnet on Saturday.

But we have to go into each of our final 12 fixtures looking to win every single one of them and pick up maximum points.

Draws aren’t good enough at this stage of the season.

Our game against Barnet is a very important game for both clubs.

They’re fighting to stay up but it’s not like they have any more incentive to win than we do - we have so much to play for.

Graham Westley’s sides are always very organised and motivated.

They’ll be wanting to come to us and do a job on us.

They were beating Accrington Stanley before drawing with them and were also 1-0 up against Carlisle United before eventually losing on Tuesday night, so they’re fighting hard.

They need to start picking up points and they will be fully motivated.

We need to make sure that we match that and go to the next level.

We could come up against our old team-mate Richard Brindley, on Saturday.

He was good for us in the right-back spot but made his decision to move on.

He’s had his injury problems this season and might not play against us because of a knee injury but fingers crossed, it’s not too bad for him.

Crewe performance was an anomaly

WE need to put the Crewe result and performance behind us.

We’ve had two very good days of training so far this week which is what we were looking for after a performance like that.

One thing that this team is very good at is bouncing back from disappointments and that is what we’re focused on.

The performance at Crewe was an anomaly and we need to focus on what we do well, which is playing our football.

We’re looking to get into the play-offs and that’s our focus.

We have Morecambe away to follow after Barnet but our final 12 games have to be taken on a game by game basis.

It’s all about getting the job done and getting the three points.

It’s easy to go and plot your way into the play-offs and where you’ll pick up points but we have to focus on one game at a time.

My old pals have been up for the cup

IT’S been a memorable time for two of my old Colchester United team-mates, in the FA Cup fifth round.

Gavin Massey played his part in Wigan Athletic’s superb win over Manchester City on Monday night, as did Ian Henderson in Rochdale’s 2-2 draw with Spurs.

Wigan’s win over Manchester City was the biggest upset of the round and probably this season’s competition, so far.

City are the best side in England at the moment but Wigan are playing well too and Gav has been thriving for them and played ever so well in the cup game.

His number one trait is how hard working he is on and off the ball and we saw him do that countless times for us.

He had his work cut out against City trying to stop the likes of Leroy Sane but he did it ever so well.

Hendo is a key player for Rochdale and has always scored goals for them.

He did well for us and now he’s doing well there and I’m sure he’s relishing his trip to Wembley with Dale in next week’s FA Cup replay.

Talking of former Colchester people doing well, I’m really pleased to see my old boss Joe Dunne impressing as Cambridge United’s interim coach.

They beat Notts County on Tuesday night and he’s been doing a fantastic job but it doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.

I’m not sure if he wants the job on a full-time basis or not but if he does, he’s done his chances no harm whatsoever after three wins out of three.

Barca tie is finely poised

I THOUGHT my old club Chelsea did very well against Barcelona in the Champions League, on Tuesday night.

Everyone knows what Barca bring and the only disappointment for Chelsea was conceding the Lionel Messi goal in the second half and it was one mistake that cost them.

They didn’t create too many chances though and I think 1-1 is not a bad result and they would probably have taken that, before the game.

They were unlucky not be already ahead by the time Willian gave them the lead and he had already hit the post twice, before that.

I think Chelsea are more than capable of going to the Nou Camp and getting a positive result.

Antonio Conte has been accused of being negative in his tactics but he’s paid to make decisions like that and that’s why he’s in the position that he’s in.

If you try and attack against a fantastic team like Barcelona or Manchester City that play such good football, you will leave yourself open.

If you can limit that, I think that’s the way forward.

Birthday bonanza

DID you see how the Inter Milan players decided to mark the birthday of their team-mate Mauro Icardi – they poured an entire bag of it on the striker's head after training!

I can safely say that it’s not something that’s ever happened in our changing room, although we do mark birthdays within the squad.

If it’s your birthday, you have to bring in a cake or face a fine.

It was Cameron James’ turn recently and Liam Mandeville will come up trumps today – hopefully!

It’s rare that someone doesn’t bring in cakes for their birthday, although I’ve got a feeling Sammie Szmodics might have somehow eluded it – and his birthday was last September!

Krispy Kreme doughnuts are the standard from anyone celebrating, although others have gone for lemon cakes or have brought in a home-made offering.

Some are very cheap and cheerful but the best cake offering I’ve ever had at a football club has come from Sean Murray.

Muzza brought in Lola’s cupcakes for his birthday, which were awesome!

Anyone for tennis balls?

IT was certainly a strange sight over in Germany when Eintracht Frankfurt fans threw tennis balls onto the pitch in protest against Monday Night Football.

It must have been a strange experience for the players at the time.

I’ve seen coins, sweets, bottles of fizzy drink and programmes thrown onto the pitch during my time as a player but never tennis balls!