LAST Saturday's FA Cup defeat against Cambridge City was a hugely disappointing day for the St George's Lane club and we are all aware of the benefits it could have brought us had we won.

We've been handed tough cup draws for the last three years and that was another. Cambridge have proved in their league this season to be a good side, but I felt the outcome could have been different had we taken our chances.

We took a worthy lead from Colin Hoyle and I thought we could have gone 2-0 up with Adam Webster's shot at the end of the first-half, and there was a chance just after half-time when Leon Kelly put in a great ball for Webby.

That would have given us some breathing space and losing Danny McDonnell was a significant blow and a critical moment in the match. We then see Cambridge score three goals from three shots. Statistics may prove that to be slightly different but that's how I saw it.

Once the equaliser went in, our performance went with it and I think up until then we had been quite strong.

Danny is one of our key players and he is now going to be out for a very long time with a recurrence of his rib injury. It's another huge slice of bad luck for us and another situation where we shake our head, but we must get on with it and not feel sorry for ourselves.

Once again, the first-aid room gets busier and that is where our problems lie. It's the worst injury crisis I've know since I've been at the club.

We had eight out injured on Saturday and Leon and Webby played while unfit. Had we had our full quota of strikers, they would not have played. Jai Stanley has been diagnosed with a torn cartilage and he is another one for the operating theatre.

After the game, one or two people were telling me to go out there and buy fit players but it's not possible.

The club's situation is critical right now and I would like to bring in a few players on loan, but the resources are not there. We are above the budget agreed and have to make cuts rather than bring new players in.

We are there to be shot at due to recent results and criticism does hurt because we are only human. But some of what was said after the game to myself and the players was embarrassing and I would like to think we kept our dignity in all of that.

We are working hard to get out of this bad run and I can't stress enough how important it is that everybody gets behind the team. The players are short of confidence and encouragement from supporters does have a huge impact in lifting the side.

We especially need that support on Friday night when Alfreton Town come to St George's Lane in Nationwide North. Alfreton are top of the league and obviously a very good side. It will be a tough test for us but I have every con-fidence in the side I select to get a positive result.