GOALKEEPER Michael Johnson is not fazed by Braintree Town’s tough-looking start to the Vanarama National League South season and the Iron goalkeeper feels they should be setting their targets towards the top end of the table this year.

It is a new-look side that manager Glen Driver has assembled after almost the entire squad that was relegated from the top flight last year departed and everyone at the club appreciates that patience may be required as the group continue to gel together.

The National League South fixture planners have cut them little slack and handed the Iron a testing first month, but Johnson feels they shouldn’t be fazed by the start they have and is confident the club can be challenging towards top end of the table.

“I don’t see any reason why that shouldn’t be the case,” he said.

“I know this club were among the favourites to go down when they were in this league the last time, but they had a really tight-knit squad and a good manager and ended up winning the play-offs.

“We’re in a similar position now.

"I’m a very ambitious person and my aim will always be play-offs and promotion wherever I am.

“But we just have to take the first few games and see how we get on.

“We’ve got a really tough start, but there are no easy games this year so we might as well start off with some hard ones and really test ourselves to see if we are at the level we need to be at.”