Apparently, nobody at our club had worked out that their players were tall and uncompromising and would crunch and out-jump us at any opportunity.

You can't really blame tiredness as a result of playing Leeds on the Tuesday, many of the paying fans have to get up early to work long shifts every day – and some of them are putting in 10 hours at a time in jobs that are equally demanding and probably even less secure.

They expect and deserve better than this mess we got at Sixfields.

After (presumably) a half-time rocket, our team woke up to produce a sterling performance that was rather late given that we were already two goals down, and Colchester were gold-medalists at wasting time.

This scenario happens far too often, that we win the big game or at least play well in it, and then sit back in the next fixture waiting for the opposition to set the pace.

Disastrous.

Mentally, it's a case of 'see what they do, and then try to match it without breaking sweat too much' and it's happening far too often.

If you were at the game at Swindon, or the home game against Oldham, you'll know just what I mean.

Tennis players at peak fitness manage to play games day after day – is our team really at that highest level of fitness?

Reader Martin Atwill is not alone in roping Stuart Gray into the 'guilty' corral – he says '...he must have known what to expect with Colchester's height advantage. We needed to revert to three centre-backs'.

A couple of other points from him – 'Holt brings little other than being a head on a stick' and 'It would be worth putting Dolman as centre-forward to give some presence – am I the only one who sees this?'

Well, my reply is that given we still have nobody up front with the ability to put the ball into the net, anything is worth a try.

After 15 minutes, Ryan Gilligan had only to punt the ball into goal but chose to square to Leon Constantine who hit it poorly (surprise surprise).

Then later, Danny Jackman gave a peach of an easy chance to Scott McGleish and he side-footed it well wide.

I've got respect for what Scotty has done in the past and I had hopes he'd do it again, but time is running out.

By the way, Constantine in his re-programmed role as Mr wide-man was perfectly adequate, but we must get a striker.

For the record, Colchester scored from two uncontested headers in the 23rd and 25th minutes, and also wasted another carbon-copy chance – on top of that, an awful hash later came from Johnnie Jackson, who was clear through and didn't just miss the barn door, he missed the barn!

All you can say that's kind is that we upped our application in the second half, got a cracking (but deflected) goal from Jackman's free kick, and really should have salvaged a point.

On-loan Nicholas Bignall did enough to be given a starting position for Saturday at Sixfields against Leyton Orient.

I've no idea what was wrong with Luke Guttridge, I can only assume he's picked up a virus – he was taken off at half-time after a dire display.

The other thing he picked up before going off was a yellow card that was his fifth of the season, thus he's out for Saturday.

Don't stay away from the match, we can't be as bad again.

Look, there's a Christmas angel to give me the gift of hope.

Or is it a man in a white coat?

The Brighton away game on January 3 is all-ticket and it has produced fury from those of our fans who have signed up to the away ticket scheme because money has already been debited from their accounts.

Reader Gwen England contacted me to say: "We went two years ago and it was the worst ground we'd ever been to and we swore never to go back."

I've spoken to Paula Kane at Sixfields, and the short answer is 'no problem, we'll give you a refund'.

Even Brighton fans can't buy a ticket there on matchday. However, the wider picture for our away tickets scheme is that it is not there to be cherry-picked.

Some people take the Leicesters, Leeds and MKs but keep cancelling the others on a regular basis, and my guess is that it could be withdrawn if that continues.

Kettering are to have their FA Cup replay against Notts County televised on Setanta.

It's interesting how Cobblers' fans have always had a good word for the Poppies, whom they see as a 'proper' club, while the likes of Rushden & Diamonds have always been seen as unworthy upstarts!

Maybe that will change if Kettering get promoted and start snapping at our heels.

The Cobblers now begin all games by lining up in a front-of-stand handshaking ceremony with opponents and officials.

It is part of the Football League's 'enjoy the game' promotion, tied in
with the FA's 'Respect' initiative.

I like what it stands for, but we haven't yet gone as far as rugby union, where the home players form a tunnel to clap their opponents off the pitch at full-time.

Maybe that's just as well because some of our lot may have felt tempted to kick some Colchester shins after the rough treatment they got last Saturday!

Wanted: Ideas for pricing
The recession and its effect on football has been a big talking point this week, even the Premier League clubs are finding open spaces in their previously bulging stands.

The difference between them and us is that they could let everyone in free and still have more income than they had last year, while we have to perform a nasty balancing act just to survive.

Cobblers' supporter Mark Kennedy came up with a stunning idea this week – to solve the problem of a mostly empty north stand, offer season tickets there at just £250.

As chairman David Cardoza turns white at the thought of his losses, such ideas may not be as barmy as they seem.

He made it clear at Monday's open forum that the club will examine all suggestions, but it is clear that a drop in overall income must not be the result.

You'd need to sell thousands more tickets at the cheaper price to just equal the income from the present season ticket scheme.

It would also reduce capacity for casual sales or for away fans.

Maybe if other versions of Mark's idea are looked at, something can be conjured that works.

There's no point quoting clubs like Bradford City who are able to now consider season tickets at £99 for a less-favoured part of their ground.

They have massive spare capacity and can take the gamble because of income from elsewhere.

We are stuck with a limited capacity, and it may be for a lot longer given that Cardoza intimated at Monday's meeting that the council have told him the vitally-needed Sixfields area development could move even further away.

You could strangle them but if their necks are as thick as their communal senses, you'd only hurt your hands. I'm beginning to think they are getting some masochistic pleasure from being obstructive.

If you have ideas on pricing and use of seating, contact the club via paula.kane@ntfc.co.uk – at the time of writing, nobody has bothered, and they genuinely want your thoughts.

In addition, if you have any comments on the VAT situation I'd send them in too. There's no move to re-price tickets and I have some sympathy with the club as they keep prices the same, however, what do you feel should happen next season?

On one ticket, the drop down to 15 per cent VAT makes little difference, but on a block of season tickets purchased in one go it does.

Why is all-seater rule not enforced?
I didn't make it clear last week that Jane Rockingham's complaint of alleged over-zealous stewarding applied to the east end of north stand.

Stewart Lucas read it, and sends his comments – he says the main issue is inconsistency.

When the little clubs are here the all-seater policy is enforced, yet when the big clubs like Leeds arrive they are allowed to stand, and this is "...reciprocated in other parts of the ground." He says "What message does that send to home supporters?

"If the club has a policy it needs to be in place every week, not just when the stewards feel like it."

I feel equally frustrated by it, but I also understand the dynamics of what is possible and what is not.

For instance it was easy for the council to give me a ticket for parking on the grass off Duston Way while I was at a Cobblers' game, whereas the travellers who were on the grass nearby didn't get parking tickets.

It's an odd world! Your further thoughts on stewarding please to cobblersteve@hotmail.com

For the Leyton Orient game, three past players will be making the half-time draw to reward a lucky season ticket holder, perhaps the best known of the three is Roly Mills who served the club wonderfully from 1954 to 1963.

I must rush to the gents' lavatories to hear whether I've won anything, as it's the only place in the ground where the PA system is properly audible.

After Saturday's game the draw will be made in the bar for the NTFC Supporters' Ltd raffle – please bring in any last minute ticket-stubs and money.