MANAGER Danny Searle insists there will be no half measures from his Braintree Town team in a few games that could prove pivotal to the Iron's chances of staying in the Vanarama National League this year.

With 13 games to play, Braintree are still bottom of the table and 11 points from safety after their 2-1 defeat at high-flying Eastleigh last weekend, but they have three fixtures coming up against other clubs who are also in the lower part of the standings - starting with Aldershot Town at home on Saturday.

Games against Dover Athletic and Chesterfield Town will swiftly follow and Searle, knowing his team are fighting for their National League lives, said there would be no meekness in how they would be approaching them.

He felt his players should be confident after beating second-placed Salford two weeks ago and then being disappointed not to have least taken a point from their trip to another promotion-chasing side last weekend and insists another three points are in their sights when the Shots come to Cressing Road.

Searle said: "Looking at the last two teams we have played - two teams who are chasing promotion - and if you'd offered a point against both then I think you'd have to have taken it.

"We have taken three points from those two games so that's a plus, but the frustrating thing is knowing that it could have been more.

"Would we have taken a point knowing what we know now and knowing that a draw would have got us off the bottom of the table?

"Yes we would, but in all honesty, it's not single points that will make the difference for us.

"We have to go for three pointers as that's what's going to make us survive.

"We just have to go out there for wins."

But while it is a run of games that could prove vital to the Iron's hopes, Searle said it was purely 3pm on Saturday and the challenge presented by Aldershot that was their concern.

"The most important thing for us is Saturday," he added.

"I'm not thinking about Dover or Chesterfield or Harrogate at home after that - all I'm thinking about is Aldershot.

"We can't get carried away because that will take our eye off the ball and we have to make sure we put in a performance against Aldershot.

"We have to make sure we win the game.

"So the message we will send the players out on to the pitch with is that they have to be confident and positive.

"We know we are bottom of the league, but we have gone to an Eastleigh side with a great set-up targeting a place in the Football League and we can argue that we have come away from there disappointed.

"So we have to be confident and positive.

"Aldershot are a team in a similar position to ourselves and they are also fighting for their lives.

"They will also be looking for the win to add confidence but we should be positive because we have just gone toe-to-toe with two big clubs and could have won both of those games.

"There's no lack in confidence that we can take into this one."

Just as they had in the home win against Salford two weeks ago, Searle said Braintree's fans would have a big part to play against Aldershot, but he added that it was his team's responsibility to give them something to cheer and said no slacking on effort would be tolerated.

He said: "The fans have been excellent so far and they were again on Saturday at Eastleigh.

"It would have been easy to go quiet after seeing us go behind like we did, but they stayed behind us and that was so appreciated. "They were very positive and the whole environment around the club has been positive.

"Without a doubt, that is so important and we have to respond.

"These people are putting their hands in their pockets to support the team and they are giving us a great response, so we have to ensure we justify that.

"The minimum we do is put the maximum effort in and if we can add to that with points as well then great, but they have to walk away knowing that their players have put in absolutely everything they have for them."