RICKY Gabriel is confident that things will improve for Braintree Town but admits that it needs to be sooner rather than later if they are to get out of the early season "rut" that they have found themselves in.

It has been a tough return to the Vanarama National League for the Iron and they head to Boreham Wood on Saturday still looking for an opening win of the campaign after defeats by Barrow and Maidenhead United over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Gabriel started his first game of the season in the 2-0 home loss to Maidenhead on Monday, but he has seen enough from the sidelines in the early part of the campaign to assess Braintree's position.

He feels they haven't been outclassed so far, but admits that mistakes have been hurting them and knows they need to sort that out - quickly.

Gabriel, who was part of Braintree's successful promotion-winning team in National League South last year, said: “It’s my first time at this level and I know it’s been tough for us at the start of the season with results, but when I’ve been watching from the sidelines, I don’t think any team has been way better than us.

“The way I see it, it comes down to us.

“We need to be a bit stronger and not give away silly chances.

“There hasn’t been a massive difference between us and other sides, so it’s just fine margins that we’re coming down on the wrong side of.

“Eventually it should click as we have a good bunch of lads but it needs to be sooner rather than later.

“We are in a rut but it will come good.

“People say they don’t look at the table this early in the season, but we have to look at it because it’s not been good enough.

“As a team we have to step up now and really push to do better.

“Personally, I’m looking to get going and help give the team a lift to keep pushing on and get some results together.”

Despite the result against Maidenhead, the Iron defender said he was pleased to get his season up and running and felt his fitness was building after not having seen any action during the club's pre-season games.

“I was happy to be out there doing what I do best," he added.

“It wasn’t the best result as a team, but for me personally, it was good to be back out there on the pitch and hopefully we can push on now.

“I’d missed the majority of pre-season and I have to take it game by game, but my base fitness is there.

“It’s just match fitness that I need.

“I felt a bit leggy at times on Monday but it will get there."