SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown is adamant the Shrimpers can still stay up.
The second from bottom Blues are six points behind both Scunthorpe and Colchester United with just two games to go.
But Brown still remains convinced his side can avoid relegation on goal difference, despite Scunthorpe currently being eight goals better off.
“Sometimes the goal difference had looked a bridge too far but the way I’m looking at it is that we need to win two games and we need Scunthorpe to lose two so that’s four goals straight away,” said Brown.
“It is achievable and I’m not going to lie down thinking that it's not.
“I’m a realist at times and I understand the odds are firmly stacked against us.
“But we will not be giving up, that’s for sure.”
Blues head to Barrow on Saturday before finishing the season at home to Newport County.
And Brown remains firmly focused on this weekend’s game against Barrow side who secured their own safety with a 2-0 win at Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night.
“We will go at Barrow on Saturday then go straight to the teleprinter for results elsewhere,” said Brown.
“I’ve witnessed four games here and this changing room cares.
“I’ve got my reasons for the Colchester defeat which I’ll go public with at the end of the season but at the same time three of the four performances have been worthy of a point if not points.
“We had a great opportunity to win at Exeter and the Colchester game for 30 minutes was OK and then wasn’t acceptable for an hour.
“The rest of the time I’ve seen a great response from the players and I’m going to be demanding that for the next couple of days going into the Barrow game.”
Barrow are now safe from relegation and was Brown was in attendance for their midweek win at Forest Green.
“It was so disappointing because I’ve witnessed so much commitment in the past four or five weeks where teams have to win and have done,” said Brown.
“To see Forest Green play like they did was such a disappointment but I know the guys at Barrow and they certainly set their stall out.
“They got them over the line and every credit to them.
“I’ve already spoken to their assistant manager to congratulate them on their success but I want my team to turn up against them, just like they did Orient.”
Scunthorpe travel to Bradford City this weekend before hosting Stevenage on the final day.
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