NEW manager Jake Hutchings felt it was time for some “home truths” to be told within Braintree Town’s squad following the disappointment of their FA Trophy defeat by Yate Town.

Just as they had been by Enfield Town at the first hurdle of the FA Cup, the Iron were felled in the Trophy by a side who play their league football a level below them as they bowed out at the third qualifying round stage.

It was a bitter blow for Hutchings and meant his first two games in charge had left the team on the wrong end of frustrating results after their 6-2 loss at Welling United in Vanarama National League South the week before.

Hutchings, who took over as player/manager in the wake of the departure of Glen Driver earlier this month, knows there is work to be done ahead of a home game against Hampton & Richmond Borough on Saturday.

And the new man at the helm feels that the players – himself included – need a reality check about what is required from them in each and every game.

He said: “I don’t want to be too negative early on but home truths need to be told.

“It’s been the way from the start of the season that we switch it on and switch off when it suits.

“We go to top sides in the league and we turn up and get great results, but then – and this is no disrespect to the likes of Yate Town or Enfield Town – when we come up against sides who we feel are lower than us, for some reason we don’t want to turn up.

“We just feel we can go through the motions and still get a result.

“Possibly the early goal we got against Yate Town (after just 35 seconds of the game) emphasised that we felt it would be easy.

“It was a dream start and you think you’re on for a good day, but it then came down to desire and passion.

“How badly do you want to win the game?

“Well, I was left questioning a few of the boys, asking whether we really wanted it.

“I wasn’t too sure and that’s been evident over the season.

“But it shouldn’t be me asking them that, I asked them to go home and question themselves.

“Did they put the same effort in for that game as they did at Havant & Waterlooville away or at Hemel Hempstead?

“All those clubs where we have gone and got a result; did you apply that same level of professionalism against Yate Town?

“Only they will know that.”

Hutchings said he hoped to bring in a couple of new faces this week ahead of the Vanarama National League South game against Hampton & Richmond Borough and he knows what he will be looking for when they arrive at Cressing Road.

“I said from minute one after taking over, it is about finding consistency in this team,” he added.

“We have been inconsistent in results from the start of the season, where some weeks we look world beaters and then others, we struggle.

“We have to work hard in training to find that level of consistency to deliver week-in week-out.

“That’s what makes you a good side, not turning up when you want to.”