Football is a beautiful game but it also can be a very cruel one as we have discovered in a difficult week for our club.

At the moment every little error seems to be punished as we found out to our detriment last Saturday against Gillingham.

That's probably the main difference in this league. The teams have the quality to punish every mistake and at the moment we've been on the receiving end.

Saying that, you cannot legislate for bad refereeing and again we are being penalised for other people's mistakes.

This is not sour grapes as on Tuesday it was the inability of the referee that cost us dear and that is something which is out of our hands.

We work very hard all week and when you have decisions like the ones we had against Stoke, it's a bitter pill to swallow.

Firstly, their penalty was extremely harsh as he hit the ball at Wingnut from point-blank range, surely a case for ball against hand.

And when we had an identical appeal in the second half, it was turned down. Secondly, we had another penalty appeal dismissed when Harty was felled late on which could have seen us get a deserved equaliser.

You may be thinking "Well, you can't blame the ref", but there's a very thin line between success and failure and at the moment every decision seems to be going against us.

Talking of all the help we need, it is vital that you as fans get behind the team and staff as your support is priceless.

We appreciate that you pay your money and are entitled to your opinions, but there were small sections on Tuesday night adding a negative vibe to the atmosphere, which only contributes to our problems.

Since I have been at the club, the vocal support home and especially away has been magnificent and we've enjoyed two glorious years. So now when we're going through a lean spell, it is vital we stick together.

In the past our play and results have given you something to cheer but in these times we may need a lift and you, as fans, can give us that with your positive support.

As I promise week in week out, every member of staff is giving 100 per cent to this club, and that doesn't happen at every club, but here our honesty as professionals is unquestionable. So let's stay together and turn this season round.

Another hindering factor is the number of injuries. No sooner do we get one fit, than another falls. Among this week's patients is Bozzie who came off worse in a collision with "The baby-faced assassin" (P. Watson).

His rib injury is apparently untreatable and he has to go through the pain barrier, so with his pain threshold we should see him back by Christmas.

The most serious injury was that of Robbie 'The Tramp' Pethick who has broken a bone in his foot, the same injury as Beckham and Neville had.

And Peth has more than injury in common with these players as he's got a right foot like Beck's and he has Phil Neville's looks. Robbie will be sorely missed and especially by his missus as the Hoovering, dusting, scrubbing, gardening and shopping will all have to wait.

Not all bad news though, as the Golden Child has resumed training and should be back next week. I'm especially glad as Bobby's my keep-ball circle partner and even though Virgs has been an eager stand-in, the psychologist's effects have started to wear off and he's back to his rugby-booted best.

This week in training the mickey-taking got a bit too near the bone which resulted in Bob Booker getting a debagging, which consists of getting him on the floor, ripping his kit off and dragging him round the training ground with balls coming in at all angles (Harty struck him with a beauty once he had got his eye in).

Bob came up fighting like a wounded buffalo but, sadly, his thick midriff prevented him from catching any of the culprits.

And finally I'd like to congratulate the Pitcher household on the birth of their son Jody.

He's apparently sleeping like a log after a few of Pingu's stories and they're saving a fortune on clothes as him and Geoff are sharing gear.