HAKAN Hayrettin says the “gloves have to come off” as Braintree Town step up their fight to stay in the Vanarama National League.

The Iron boss feels Lady Luck has not been shining on his side in their last two outings that have ended in defeats at Tranmere and York to leave them perilously poised just clear of the drop zone.

And as they return home for back-to-back games at the Ironmongery Direct Stadium - starting with the visit of Dover Athletic on Saturday - he wants to see this players keep fighting.

Hayrettin said: “We just have to keep fighting - what else can we do.

“The gloves have to come off and we have to go in there fighting as we have five very big games coming up.

“There’s no other way round it and we can’t take our foot off the gas.

“We have been getting punished for every single thing in the last couple of games but we have to keep going.”

Hayrettin was disappointed by the 3-0 loss at York last weekend, but felt his side deserved more from their trip to Bootham Crescent.

He added: “I felt the result was more disappointing than the performance.

“I don’t think we played that badly in the first 20 to 25 minutes as we had the ball in their box far more times than it came into ours; it’s just that they took their chances.

“Nine times out of ten the free-kick (for York’s first goal) would not be given, but the second was more frustrating for me.

“It came in the 46th minute when we didn’t deal with the cross or the runners and the goalkeeper, who has been fantastic for us this season, got his timing wrong. You will win games in both boxes and in the last two games we have lost them there.

“We have had chances there as well, but we just haven’t taken them.

“We hit the crossbar at York, put one over from six yards, their keeper has made two great saves, so there are chances.

“Supporters may say that we aren’t trying, but we are.

“It’s not through want of trying.”