WE'RE now six points above the relegation zone, with four games to play.

As I said last week, we had 180 minutes to save our season with two key games coming up at home.

Well, now that is down to 90 minutes, with half the job done following our win against Walsall on Saturday.

We now need to ensure that the same spirit, determination and hard work is carried on to the key game against Southend.

What we can't afford now that we have put ourselves in a fantastic position is to throw it all way on Tuesday.

So now is the time to carry on where we left off on Saturday and start the Essex derby with the same intent.

We have shown we can do it and three points against Southend will all but confirm our Football League status for another season.

I think the management made a very good call with the changes that they brought in against Walsall and there is no reason, other than niggles and injuries, to look at anything other than more of the same Tuesday.

Shamal George earned a welcome recall in between the sticks and performed well.

His normal confidence and his distribution enables other options than playing out from the back.

Michael Folivi had a very key impact, not just with his goal, but in the way he linked up with those around him and Noah Chilvers put in another committed display in midfield.

So all this points to a winning formula of 4-4-2 and players playing in their correct positions.

Why change it? As they say if its not broke, don’t try and fix it. Well it has been broken for a while, so fingers crossed now it appears fixed, no tinkering is carried out.

The Walsall game was one that we went into knowing we needed to win, after the EFL changed all the kick-off times to avoid a clash with the funeral of HRH Prince Philip.

Both Southend and Grimsby kicked off at 12.30pm, meaning we kicked off knowing their results.

And with Grimsby winning and Southend managing to hold Exeter to a draw, all eyes were on North Essex to see what effect our game had on the survival gap.

We started well and had a few good chances to take the lead, but sadly another defensive error from a set piece saw us fall behind.

Now I know fans could be forgiven for fearing the worse, what with Walsall’s current form and our dire ability to win games.

But this was not a normal day and we showed the heart and determination not only to find the equaliser, but also the additional goal to get ourselves ahead before the break.

Yes Folivi’s equaliser will not win any goal of the season awards, but for the importance it will be up there with any goal we score this year because it ignited something in the side that the fans have been calling out for - passion and togetherness.

Both sides had chances in the second half but when all was said and done, we never looked second best.

Ryan Clampin’s well-taken goal in first-half stoppage time proved a worthy winner, giving the U’s the much-needed three points and a small amount of breathing space above the drop.

The Southend game is a whole new game on a different day.

But play like we did against Walsall and we should be able to send our local rivals back home with their tails between their legs and all but relegated.

It just needs 90 minutes of determination and passion. Come on lads, you can do it. Up the U’s.