DESPITE a disappointing run of recent results, Braintree Town defender Michael Clark is convinced the Iron aren't far from getting back to the form that lifted them into the Vanarama National League South play-off places.

A 3-0 defeat by bottom-placed Hungerford Town last weekend ensured that Braintree have now taken just one point and conceded 12 goals in their last four league games and saw them drop to ninth in the table.

It has been a run that has come in stark contrast to the one that had lifted them into the heart of the play-off battle a few weeks ago when they won seven and drew one of nine league outings, however, Clark knows the quality that brought that sequence is still there in the Iron squad.

And he is backing them to bounce back, hopefully starting when they travel to fourth-placed Hemel Hempstead on Saturday.

“I think we’re just one result away from going on another good run," said Clark.

“The boys in this group are more than good enough to compete at the top of this league.

“So if we keep working hard and trying to do the right things then I think it will come for us again.

“We just need to build momentum now as it’s important to get a run going for the Christmas period when games will be coming thick and fast.

“But with this group we’ve got, I know we’re more than capable of going on a good run and getting results.

“It’s another big game for us at Hemel Hempstead and we’ll just have to work harder than them to get results.

“I’m full confident we can do that."

Clark said he had felt the pace of 90 minutes against Hungerford last weekend as he continued to come back to full fitness after having a month on the sidelines with a knee injury.

However, the Iron centre-half said he was feeling good to be back involved.

“My knee has been holding up well," he added.

“I did good rehab from the injury and I’m feeling strong now.

“I had a tear in my MCL (Medial Cruciate Ligament) and also a strain on the meniscus but I saw a specialist and had some tablets to get the swelling down.

“Fortunately there haven’t been any problems and I didn’t need any surgery or anything like that with the tear that I had.

“Anything worse may have needed surgery but I was fortunate not to.

“I’d say I’m one more game away from being fully fit as it still gets to about 60 minutes and I feel myself puffing but that will come with games."