Braintree have 'platform' for progress - new boss Pitt

Braintree's John Akinde tangles with Forest Green defender Ryan Inniss

New Braintree Town boss Steve Pitt believes his side have a platform to start climbing the National League table despite losing on penalties to Forest Green Rovers in the FA Trophy.

Pitt was appointed last week following the sacking of former manager Angelo Harrop on 27 November.

Following Harrop's departure, Braintree drew with Gateshead in the league and beat West Brom Under-21s 3-2 in the National League Cup under caretaker Justin Moseley.

The Trophy tie with Forest Green went to a shootout after ending 1-1 and despite his team's exit, Pitt told BBC Essex: "We went toe to toe with one of the best, if not the best, teams in the league - you only have to look at the quality of players they've got front to back.

"As soon as we got the teamsheet we realised they'd only made one change from the team for last weekend's draw with Halifax so we knew they were taking the competition seriously, we knew they'd come here to win a game of football and I thought we acquitted ourselves extremely well.

"This gives us a platform. Justin set the team up extremely well for the last two games, he changed the formation to 4-2-3-1 which I like anyway."

Braintree play Nottingham Forest Under-21s on Tuesday before Pitt takes charge for the first time in a league game when they travel to Yeovil Town on Saturday.

They are 19th in the table, just one point above the relegation places, following last season's promotion.

Pitt was previously Harrop's assistant before leaving the club at the end of 2023 and was delighted to be invited back in the number one role.

"The club approached me after Angelo left the club, not the other way round, which I considered to be quite an accolade in itself," he said.

"The relationship I've got with the chairman and the board and the people behind the scenes is obviously a positive because from my point of view, I've been able to hit the ground running."