HAKAN Hayrettin will ask his Braintree Town players to be “bold and brave” when they head to York City in a crunch Vanarama National League clash at Bootham Crescent on Saturday.

While Braintree were unable to bounce back from defeat by Woking with a positive result at Tranmere Rovers last week, manager Hayrettin was buoyed by his team’s display on the Wirral and he wants to see them build on that against the Minstermen.

It is set to be an important game as York look to get clear of the relegation places, while the Iron are bidding to put distance between themselves and the drop zone and Hayrettin wants his players to head north with a positive mindset again.

“There were a lot of positives from Tranmere,” he said. “It certainly wasn’t all doom and gloom.

“We weathered the storm of the first 20 minutes and we came good. I felt we were the better team in the second half and the only thing was that we weren’t able to take the chances that we created.

“The goal we conceded was poor as it came about as two players ducked rather than taking responsibility and heading the ball clear, but it is a learning curve that they are on and I was proud of how the players responded.

“York will be a different challenge from Tranmere, though - they will be direct.

“They have assembled a group of players who can play in a league higher and they will be strong and physical so we have to be ready.

“We have to go with confidence and have to bold and brave.

“York have improved dramatically and you can see that in their results, so positivity is the most important thing for us.

“It could be worse for us - we could be North Ferriby, Southport, York City, Woking, Torquay or Maidstone, but we’re not and we have to stay positive.”

Hayrettin may have a few injury concerns for the trip to York, though.

Manny Parry was the latest in a string of central defenders to get injured this season after having to go off with a twisted ankle at Tranmere and he will be assessed ahead of Saturday’s action.

“I’ve never known anything like it,” said Hayrettin.

“We’ve had Jon Ashton injured twice while with Braintree, Jake Goodman twice, Ian Gayle twice, Frankie Musonda has come in and got injured and then there are the goalkeeper problems we’ve had as well.

“Ben McNamara has come in and done a great job, but having these things happen is a disruption because they are fundamental things to a club like Braintree.

“They are pivotal positions where you build the spine of your team from.

“Take nothing away from the players who have come in as they have been fantastic, but you start to think what is going on.

“But we have to be mentally strong and focused and take it a game at a time.”

Also likely to require assessments are keeper Sam Beasant, Jake Goodman and Ian Gayle.