We Must Get Fitness Up To Scratch Says Concerned Quinton

Unwanted defeat, no problem. Good wins, it’s just a friendly. Plenty of time to turn things around or caution offered in fear of finding a false dawn.

Not Braintree Town manager Bradley Quinton. He wasn’t at all happy with his side’s 5-0 defeat to League Two Colchester United - and told his players as much with the National League season getting close.

But things may get more challenging before they get better. The Iron face Championship Ipswich Town next.

“Individually and as a squad, they will be pushed now,” he told the Braintree and Witham Times. “It’s time to start analysing everyone.

“Individually my players need to be fitter. I’m not comparing them with Colchester, but individually, when we have the ball or someone loses the ball then they have to put the hard graft in.

“Running off the ball – unselfish running – there needs to be a lot more from them. So in sessions now, we will be doing work on that.

“It’s still quite early and it can be difficult to settle back in after getting promoted and accepting where we are. I think there’s still a bit of shock there for everyone.

“But you have to start working hard and we’re trying to nail down people to get done what we can and to push them as hard as we can.”