Despite their opponents having a formidable line-up on paper, Braintree Town manager Danny Cowley is confident that Braintree Town can go to Eastleigh and continue their excellent away form today.

The Iron lost 1-0 at home to Guiseley last weekend, but they have taken 13 points from their last five away Vanarama National League games and Cowley feels they should not be overawed by the prospect of facing big-budget Eastleigh.

Cowley said: “They have a new manager, but I know some of their players and that may give them a lift.

“We’ve been good away from home, but they are a good side.

“Look at their team on paper and it’s enough to frighten the life out of you, but football’s not played on paper.

“We will be organised, have a game plan and give a good account of ourselves.”

Despite their defeat by Guiseley last weekend, Braintree head into the game at Eastleigh sitting level with today’s hosts just two points off the National League play-off places.

However, Cowley insists that fans need to temper expectations of pushing for the play-offs as Braintree continue to operate with a playing budget that is well below a lot of the other clubs in the league.

“I don’t know what people expect really, but if they expect us to be in the top five and the top three then they are dreaming,” he said.

“We spoke to Southport ahead of Saturday’s game because they’d just played Guiseley.

“They had tried to sign (Guiseley centre-half) Rob Atkinson, who was terrific on Saturday and he was on £750 a week.

“Liam Dickinson was a million pound player four or five years ago and scored ten in 30 for Southend so I don’t suppose he comes cheap – certainly not in our budget.

“I’ve got no problem with people airing their disappointment because that’s what football is about – when we win they’re happy and when we lose they’re disappointed.

“I feel all those emotions as well so I can’t criticise others who feel it.

“But we must remember that our players are working exceptionally hard on an unlevel playing field.

“I said to them in the changing room that they should be proud that people were really disappointed.

“People may criticise after that game, but it’s a back-handed complement because that’s how much they think of you.

“They genuinely believe that you can be challenging at the top of this league.

“The reality is what we are trying to achieve is the impossible – but we’ll have a go at it.”