Braintree Town manager Danny Searle is not afraid of spoiling a potential Orient Promotion Party. The Iron travel to E10 knowing the O’s only need a point to confirm their return back to the Football League but Searle wants his side to continue their recent good form.

• Sit 23rd on 40 points
• Last won four games in a row April 2018

Despite relegation back to National League South, Searle’s men have won their last three games and the 41 year old stated to Braintree and Witham Times ” we will go there and look to put in a performance to get a result. If that is to the detriment of Leyton Orient winning the league then that is not our problem”.

• League Record – P45  W11  D7  L27  F48  A78

The Iron made it four wins from their last five games with a 2-0 home victory over Dagenham & Redbridge on Easter Monday. Goals from Alfie Cerullli and Mohammed Sagaf sealed the win. Searle was pleased with his sides application and performance in the second half, stating to braintreetownfc.org “we were poor in the first half but I told them at the interval to get playing the pressing game we have in recent weeks, work together as a unit and force them deep into their own half. They did just that”.

Braintree’s Last Six Results

After promotion through the playoffs last season, it has been a challenging season for the Iron. Searle took over after Hakan Hayrettin departure to Maidstone back in January and the former West Ham Coach faced a up hill task. Despite their relegation confirmed at the end of March, Searle’s side could finish 21st with victory on Saturday. Speaking to Braintree and Witham Times “my first goal was for us not to finish bottom and we’ve ensured we won’t do that now. If we were to going to go down, we did not want to go down in bottom position and now we’ve taken care of that, we want to finish as high as we can”.

• Kept nine league clean sheets (five away)
• Back to back clean sheets, first time since May 2018
• Three in last five games
• Two in last four away games

Searle was brought in alongside as Hayrettin’s assistant earlier in the season and is calling on the fans support as they venture back into the sixth tier. The 41 year old is glad is side were able to sign off at Cressing Road with a win stating to Braintree and Witham Times “it’s six games that we’ve won since we came in as a management team and the first time that the team has won three games in a row this season. Hopefully it is putting us in a position where everyone at the club can take pride from it” He added “it was lovely to see everyone there and hopefully plenty of them will be coming back next season”.

• Failed to score in 16 league games
• Scored in last eight games – netting 15 goals
• Scored two or more goals in last three games and five of their last six games
• Scored in las four away games and seven of their last eight away games

With a rebuilding process ahead of them in the summer, Searle is keen for the players to show him if they are up for the challenge to bounce back next season. The Iron are fighting for league position and Searle highlighted that all of his players must keep focused before their summer break. Speaking to Braintree and Witham Times “if there is any players whose minds are on the beach and they think there is nothing to play for, then they won’t be playing for me. Winning is a habit and we want to take as much of a winning mentality into next season. It’s not something you can switch on and off. This is a test of character, who is up for the fight next season regardless of what we are fighting for”.

Braintree’s Last Six Seasons

Braintree have already shown they can upset the top seven this season, taking four points from Salford and recently beating AFC Fylde. With Orient only needing a point to confirm promotion, Searle knows that his side will be up for the challenging of upsetting the O’s and finishing as high as they can. Speaking to Braintree and Witham Times “after beating Dagenham we know that if we can get something against Leyton Orient then we could potentially overtake Havant and Aldershot. We have shown great integrity in every game so far and that will be the same at Orient on Saturday”

• Away League Record – P22  W5  D4  L13  F23  A34
• Only Aldershot (14) and Havant & Waterlooville (13) have taken less points away
• Two wins in last four games
• Only two wins in last nine
• Lost five of their six away games against current top 7 – F8  A19

Last Meeting 

25/09/2018 – Braintree 1-5 Leyton Orient

Last Time Out – 22/04/2019 – Braintree 2-0 Dagenham & Redbridge

Starting 11 vs Dagenham

Prediction – Leyton Orient 3-1 Braintree