Devonshire appeals for fans to be realistic over Iron's chances (From Braintree and Witham Times)

Devonshire appeals for fans to be realistic over Iron's chances

10:27am Friday 7th September 2012 in Sport By Simon Spurgeon

Alan Devonshire has asked Braintree Town’s fans to give better support to his team.

The Iron boss admitted to feeling “dejected” by some of the comments he heard as his players tired towards the end of their 1-1 draw with Kidderminster Harriers in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

That result followed wins against Woking and Tamworth, but the effort of playing a third game within a week against full-time opposition took its toll on Braintree’s part-timers.

A dominant start saw the Iron go 1-0 up thanks to a wonder strike by Dan Holman – his fourth goal in three games – but the players visibly flagged as the game progressed and intense Kidderminster pressure led to a late equaliser.
 

Devonshire was disappointed his team couldn’t hold on, but he was more annoyed by negative comments about how they played in the latter part of the game.
 

He told the Braintree and Witham Times: “I was just a bit dejected with some of what I was hearing.

“At the end of the day the fans can really help us.

“We were under the cosh and rather than negative things coming out of the crowd – because we haven’t got the biggest crowd and you can hear everything – we need them to get behind us.

“They can make a real difference and can help us through those last ten to 15 minutes.

“Get behind the boys.

“Yes, we all want them to get the ball down and pass it, to be playing football.

“But sometimes the boys are tired and end up launching it.

“We’ve played three hard games in a week and we are part-time.

“These boys are going home and then going to work in the morning, but we are playing teams who are full-time and in training every day.

“Get a reality check, please.

“They have done absolutely fantastic this week and I don’t know what people want.

“Do they want us to finish in the top six?

“Is that a realistic shout?

“No, because it isn’t going to happen.
 

“We won six on the bounce last year, but that isn’t going to happen because we are part-time and I can’t reiterate that enough.

“If people don’t think it makes a difference, let me tell you it does.
 

“Anyone in football knows it.

“It’s gutting we have dropped two points at the end, but they have given me everything and I can’t ask any more than that.”

Braintree travel to Macclesfield Town for their next Blue Square Bet Premier outing tomorrow. 

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