FOOTBALL is a game of contrasting emotions.

Back in January, Colchester United and their fans were in exuberant mood upon the final whistle at the County Ground, having just recovered a two-goal deficit to draw with Swindon Town in Danny Cowley’s first game in charge.

Ten months later and the post-match atmosphere was very different; it was a sombre mood among Cowley and his players as they acknowledged the U’s supporters who had made the trip to Wiltshire to see their side’s disappointing FA Cup exit.

READ MORE: Colchester United fans have their say on Swindon defeat

In contrast, new Swindon boss Ian Holloway was busy sampling a similar euphoric feeling to that of Cowley's at the same venue at the beginning of the calendar year, as he lapped up his side’s first-round comeback victory.

When you’re a football fan, it’s the hope that kills you.

When Harry Anderson fired Colchester ahead at Swindon just after the hour mark, it looked like they would go on and win the tie.

Had they done so, it would have acted as a welcome boost to an out-of-form U’s side who are in badly in need of a lift.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

But Joel McGregor came off the bench to fire a late equaliser for the Robins in the 83rd minute and take the tie into extra-time.

And with the momentum seemingly swinging in Swindon's favour after that, Kabongo Tshimanga netted the hosts’ winner in the second period to knock Colchester out of the competition at the first-round stage for the third successive year.

It is now eight games without a win for the U’s in all competitions and going out of the FA Cup has hardly helped the growing despondency among the fanbase.

After four seasons of struggle, Colchester supporters had understandably hoped for much better times this season but for many, it’s simply a case of same old, same old.

READ MORE: Colchester United player ratings after Swindon Town defeat

The last time the U’s won a game in any competition was on September 21, when they beat Tranmere Rovers 3-0 in what was an impressive all-round performance.

Colchester went to high-flying Walsall the following weekend with plenty of confidence and for much of the first half of that contest, it showed on the pitch.

But from the moment they conceded just before half-time, it feels like things have been a real struggle; the U’s shipped three further goals before the end to slide to a 4-0 defeat and to compound their misery, lost both Teddy Bishop and Owura Edwards to injury in quick succession.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

Creditable away draws at Chesterfield and Port Vale aside, little has gone right since, a miserable spell compounded by the loss of striker Samson Tovide to a hip injury.

Nevertheless, calls from some U's fans for the removal of the Cowleys are premature, to say the least.

Danny and Nicky deserve much more time to turn things around - and they should be given it.

They are a vastly experienced and successful managerial team and must be trusted and backed to get the U’s back to winning ways.

Indeed, it would be crazy to make another managerial change, right now.

While this season has undoubtedly been disappointing so far, there is no-one better than Danny Cowley to get the team back on track.

Colchester can be a good team, a winning team, under the Cowleys, this season; they have shown that already but the stark truth is that they have not done it consistently enough.

With some hard work on the training ground and by eradicating the defensive concentration lapses that have plagued their campaign to date, they can turn things around and enjoy emotions of a more positive kind, in the coming months.