Hakan Hayrettin is demanding that his Braintree Town players stop pressing the self-destruct button as they look to move to Vanarama National League safety.

The new Iron boss has now taken charge of two games since taking over from Jamie Day and been frustrated by mistakes that led to a 3-0 defeat at Lincoln City and a 2-1 loss against Boreham Wood.

However, he has been encouraged by Braintree’s largely positive play and felt his team deserved better from the Boreham game, although he admits that mistakes must be cut out – starting with tomorrow’s home game against York City at the Ironmongery Direct Stadium (kick-off 3pm).

York are just two places and three points higher up the National League table than the Iron and while Hayrettin refused to dub it as a six-point encounter so early in the campaign, he wants his players to head into the game in confident mood.

He said: “Nothing will be different for us against York; we just have to keep working hard and doing the right things.

“You can see from the Boreham game that the performance was there.

“The confidence is there but we have to drag it out of them and make them understand that they can do the job.

“While the result wasn’t what we wanted, the game against Boreham Wood was another step forward for us.

“We are slowly getting there and making them believe that they’re good enough to do this.

“We will be fine.

“It wasn’t Boreham Wood playing fantastic football, it was us and a lack of concentration that cost us.

“So we’ve identified something in certain players and we’ll address that and take it forward.

“But overall, we worked extremely hard to get something out of the game and I thought we were good value and better than them.”

Hayrettin is facing tough demands on his squad ahead of the York game, though, with three centre-halves – Jon Ashton (calf), Jake Goodman (hamstring) and Jack Cowgill (shoulder) – all carrying injuries and Ian Gayle only just returned from time in the physio’s room.

“I think I may have to get my boots out to fill in at centre back,” added Hayrettin.

“I’ve only been here for two games and I’ve had four centre-backs out injured.

“It’s Jack’s shoulder and we’ll have to see whether he’s available for Saturday, but I’ve never known a situation like that with so many centre-backs out.

“The chairman has been fantastic in allowing us to bring in one (George Elokobi) but I’ve never experienced it like that in all my time playing or managing.

“Having four centre-backs out is horrendous.”

Hayrettin was pleased to have George Elokobi on board, though, after signing the Colchester United defender on a month’s loan.

The Iron boss said: “George brings a wealth of experience, but more importantly, he brings in desire and he wants to win. I worked very hard indeed to get him in.

“Colchester have been unbelievable to let us have him and he’s eligible to play in the FA Cup and the FA Trophy so we’re blessed to have him.”

“You can see he’s a quality player and we now have to get him in and move it to the next level.”