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Iron boss wants six points

Wednesday, October 15, 2008, 15:18

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BRAINTREE Town manager Lee Patterson has told his players he wants six points from their next two Blue Square South home games played within the space of four days.

The Iron take on Newport County on Saturday and Thurrock on Tuesday in what Patterson calls "an important six-pointer" where he's looking for a repeat of the players' attitude and commitment from their 1-0 win on their last outing at Hayes & Yeading.

"They know what we want and expect which is the same work ethic and result from that game," he declared. "We want to put a consistent run together and we are only 12 points off the play-off places which we are quite capable of reaching.

"There are no easy games in this league so the players know you have to work hard at it all the time," Patterson declared. "Both Newport and Thurrock have an indifferent start to the season and they may be below us but that counts for nothing - look what we did to Hayes & Yeading when they were league leaders."

The good news for Patterson is that he will be able to field his first choice back line for the first time this season with left-mark back Mark Jones finally fully recovered.

"He came has come through two reserve games – last Saturday and again on Tuesday – with flying colours and he will be in the side on Saturday," he explained. "It means we will be getting back to almost full strength with more players available and it would be nice to now have a more settled side and set about picking up points.

"We're not far off getting up towards the top and I'm confident we can do that but we must start by picking up maximum points in these next two games," Patterson added.

The Iron were without a game last Saturday so several first-teamers played for the reserves in their 7-2 win over Haverhill at Cressing Road.

"It was a good run out for Jones and we had a couple of trialists on view and also a couple of a our young reserve players impressed so much that I want them to be part of the first team set up," said Patterson. "Both Danny Hockton and Gareth Williams scored a couple of goals each which will help their confidence and Lenny Piper had a run out.

Both games were useful in several aspects but what now really counts is this Saturday and next Tuesday.

"I want us to naturally win both but also show what we are capable of and start moving up the table.

"Both visiting teams will come determined to prove they are better than us so it's up to our players to respond and play the way I know they can and get a result for us in both games."