Losing isn't nice. Losing to your rivals is even worse. Losing to your rivals in the manner Chester FC lost to Tranmere on Sunday afternoon is painful.
At times yesterday's game had the feel of men against boys: the Blues were out-fought and out-thought.
There are of course massive disparities between the two clubs and it is inevitable these will have some bearing in what happens on the pitch.
Tranmere have an average home gate circa 5,000 and a budget reported to be close to £1 million. To put that into some context, Rovers spend about three times more than Chester on players.
Gary Brabin was without the suspended Jay Harris, Lois Maynard and Matt Hill through injury, Liam Hogan, Ritchie Sutton and Cole Stockton were not required and Marcus Holness is out on loan.
Read: Jim Green's verdict as the Blues are beaten at home to Tranmere
Yet he was still able to field a team packed with experience and talent, and one that was simply too good on the day.
But at the same time this was a derby between two teams in the same division and it should have been more of a contest. The fans deserved that at least.
But there's no time to mope however because Chester have to prepare for two crucial back-to-back games.
Bromley and Aldershot Town visit the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium in the next week and a hangover from the derby defeat could cost them dear.
With 12 games remaining, the Blues are six points above the bottom four: a nice cushion but not one that can be called comfortable.
A return of six points from these next two games would change that, leaving Chester on 45 points, which might well be enough for survival this season, while a win and a draw would provide will represent a sizeable step towards safety.
Anything less than that however will bring those relegation fears that supporters had put to the back of their minds closer to the forefront.
Read: Steve Burr pinpoints 'nous and quality' as decisive in Tranmere Rovers defeat
The maths suggest Chester should pick up enough points to get over the line. Kidderminster Harriers appear doomed, Torquay require a minor miracle and Welling United's losing run shows no signs of ending.
That would leave one relegation place remaining with seven clubs in the mix, although the Blues are one of four to have a six-point buffer.
It would take a disaster over the final two months of the season for them to be relegated from this position. It shouldn't happen and beating Bromley and Aldershot will all but ensure it doesn't.
But it's too close for comfort at the moment and the importance of these next two games cannot be underestimated.
After this the Blues hit the road for difficult trips to Eastleigh and a play-off chasing Wrexham. Results away from home this season mean it's hard to be too optimistic.
Chester's following five games include four against teams currently around them in the table, with a rearranged visit to Torquay United to be squeezed in somewhere.
If this week doesn't go well, those have the potential to be genuine six-pointers ahead of a tough end to the season with games against two clubs in the play-off pictures, Grimsby Town and Gateshead.
Whether this squad has the experience and mental strength to come through a relegation battle is open to question, but personally I don't want to find out.
As disappointing as the defeat to Tranmere was, the Blues cannot afford to dwell ahead of a critical week.
There are questions to be answered over what has gone wrong this season but that debate needs to be put on hold until those lingering relegation fears have been banished.
Positive results in these next two games can help accomplish that and maybe then the inquest can be opened but for now the manager, players and supporters have to look forwards and not backwards.
