Cheltenham chief Keith Downing insists his team can still stay up as they try to make it third time lucky against Albion in the FA Cupt omorrow.

The 1-1 draw at Whaddon Round in the first round ten days ago was followed by a 4-1 defeat for Town last Wednesday in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Withdean.

Saturday's 2-2 draw at Southend - one of the Seagulls' promotion rivals - means Cheltenham are still rooted to the foot of the table without a League win since beating Huddersfield in mid-September.

They are also without a victory of any kind for eight matches, but Downing believes the way his struggling side performed in establishing a 2-0 lead at half-time at Roots Hall on Saturday offers hope.

He said: "People have written us off after 16 games, but there is no doubt that my players and staff have not done that.

"We have come away to a top six side and done well, so we will keep going.

"Before the game you would probably say that a point would be good, but we're disappointed and the players have to learn from the things they did wrong in the second half."

Goals from Steven Gillespie and on-loan Charlton midfielder Dean Sinclair put Cheltenham 2-0 up after 25 minutes.

Southend hit back in the second half through Mark Gower and Steven Hammell and Downing was upset at his side's lack of discipline.

He said: "We showed a little bit of naivety again. For their first goal we had too many people ahead of the ball and they broke on us.

"That gave them a fantastic lift and the second goal was a runner who ran past us and nobody went with him. But Southend are a good side and we matched them."

Tomorow's completion of a quickfire knockout trilogy with Albion is followed on Saturday by the visit of Leeds.

Downing added: "I'm pleased with the players, but I feel for them because they work hard and I believe there will be a turning point in this season.

"Hopefully this will have kick started us and we can go to Brighton and at home to Leeds in a great game with some confidence.

"I want to take things on a bit now and I want the players to believe that as well."

Meanwhile, chairman Paul Baker, under fire from supporters, has vowed to step down "if someone with the best interests of the club at heart came along."

Baker made his pledge when quizzed with Downing during a fans' forum at Whaddon Road about rumours that director Simon Keswick would invest more money if he was chairman.

"I wish that was true," Baker said. "I would gladly step down if someone with the best interests of the club at heart came along.

"Simon Keswick has no interest in being the chairman - we had that conversation when he came on the board and we have had it since."

Baker also laughed off suggestions that he and the board would be happy to see the club go down.

"There is no way I want us to go down. If that happens, you could keep going down.

"I want us to stay up. I am always on Keith Downing's back - I want him to spend money and bring players in."