Manager Brad Quinton was happier with his players’ work rate as Braintree Town beat Ipswich Town with an impressive pre-season performance, but he is still looking for more.

Quinton admitted that fitness levels were not where he wanted them to be when they were beaten 5-0 by Colchester United in their previous game.

So, having put them through a gruelling training session in the intervening days, he was pleased with a more energetic display in their 2-0 win against Ipswich.

Aryan Tajbakhsh scored twice to give the Iron a comfortable victory against the Championship side, but while he was pleased to see an improved performance, Quinton is still demanding more.

He said: “We got together after the Colchester game because that performance was not to the standard that I accept.

“We had a hard session after that game when they got it because they needed it.

“I can’t have players who, just because they think they know me, think they are going to be around me.

“It doesn’t work like that.

“You can’t afford to start the season, especially one like we are going into now, being anything less than full on and I need my guys to give me more.

“They have to give more when they are not with me at training and the Colchester game clearly showed they weren’t.

“I was totally honest with them over that and they have to get their levels up.

“Sometimes I’d like to have longer to work with the guys as we only get two to three hours tops to be with them, but I said to them how I used to prepare.

“I used to go out and do runs before work and stuff like that – that’s the level of commitment that we have to do.

“Only time will tell if we’re ready.

“I, for one, never wanted to be shown up and that was my work ethic and my attitude as a player.

“I wanted to work as hard as I could to keep my shirt and they have to be doing everything they can.

“They really need to be being put through their paces.

“It’s a learning process for these guys and people have to accept that; as long as these guys give it their best then that’s all I can ask for.

“I saw much more of that when we played Ipswich, both from the boys that started and those who came on in the second half.

“We were at it and I had no complaints over that.

“If they give me that week-in week-out then I’ll accept it but I still want more.

“It has to be done at this level and you have to be striving to be better than any full-time player at National League level.

“There was no rest period for me when I was a player and that has to be pummelled into them.

“If they can’t accept that then I’ll have to go out looking for other players or get in some loan players.”