We travelled up to Crewe yesterday so we could prepare properly, as we always do, for a tough-looking away game against a side who play some really nice attractive football.

It’s a match we’re looking forward to and it has been given a little extra spice because of the successive defeats we suffered over the Easter weekend.

I think I’ve probably said enough about the Sunderland game and then for some reason we couldn’t bounce back against Accrington on Easter Monday.

For once, I was almost lost for words after that second loss because I couldn’t put my finger on why we were a little flat, something we rarely suffer from.

We analysed the game in detail over the next 48 hours, but gave the players a day off to try to recover from a busy weekend.

When they came back in we sat down, talked things through and emphasised that right now we’re still in a fantastic position and have worked so hard: why would we want to throw it all away?

Read also: Karl Robinson will watch Crewe clash from the stands

Two defeats haven’t turned us into a bad side.

We have the same set of players, the same core values and the same belief in each other and now we have a pretty simple schedule ahead of us.

We have seven games left.

That means seven chances to go out and play as we know we can.

There’s no pressure on us: real pressure comes when you’re fighting to avoid relegation from a division.

So for the next seven games we have to play with our usual high intensity, our calmness in defence and hopefully we create chances and win matches, starting today.

Win this afternoon and then we have a home fixture against Shrewsbury.

There’s a big ‘if’ coming here: imagine what the picture might look like if we won both games.

I can’t think of anything worse than spending the summer wondering what might have been.

The players have given absolutely everything, now they have seven more opportunities to do that again.

Simon Eastwood: I didn't want to be remembered for derby mistake

IT was great to get Simon Eastwood’s three-year deal sorted out this week – to have him sign a new contract is really positive for us.

Easty is a great professional and a great person to have around the club.

He knows more than anyone that he made a couple of errors in games and that goalkeepers get judged on those moments.

He came out of the side, Jack Stevens has done brilliantly and so Simon is having to bide his time for another opportunity.

I watched his reaction closely and all I can say is that since that moment he has been magnificent.

He works with Jack and goalkeeping coach Wayne Brown, he remains a popular figure with the lads and some of the saves he makes each day are unbelievable.

Fans may say ‘he’s paid to do that’ but trust me, some players react in very different ways and can be hard work for everyone.

Simon has accepted what happened, has got things out of his system, he now has security for his young family and most importantly, Oxford United now have two very good goalkeepers who will get the best out of each other, and hopefully be a big part of what we are building.