Cambridge United head coach Neil Harris says their 1-1 draw at home to mid-table Colchester United was a "strong point" in a busy period of the campaign.
The draw followed eight wins in nine matches, but they remain inside the automatic promotion places with 14 matches to play.
"I'm a football realistic and I've done long enough in the game to know that Tuesday nights at this stage of the season are really, really difficult", Harris told BBC Radio Cambridge.
"Just look what happened tonight elsewhere in the league. It's barmy. So ultimately it's a strong point. We looked like a team who's not at the levels we have been at.
"I'm being very respectful to my players, that's a positive. We've taken a top 10 side close, it's a good point. Sometimes you have to accept four games in 10 days, not everybody can be the best of their ability.
"Well done for seven points out of nine, but it was just a reminder that if we don't hit eight, nine, 10, 11 players at their best, we come unstuck in this division."
Former Millwall and Cardiff boss Harris, is hoping to take the Us back up to the third tier after last season's relegation.
He says he is prepared to be patient with his current squad.
"It can't happen every game," he added.
"I can't pick the right team and make the right subs every week either, and if the players performed at their level every week they wouldn't be playing for us anyway.
"That's just what football levels are. The positive is, we've gone to 60 points which is a massive hurdle to get over. We're now chasing 70 points.
"We've taken four points off a very good side home and away, and we're actually disappointed with a point because we're on such a good run.
"I told them 'you've been brilliant for so long, but let's not keep accepting points, and make sure we get back to winning ways quickly."