Braintree Town manager Danny Cowley hopes local people turn out to see for themselves the commitment that his players are making to the Iron’s cause.

Despite a number of members of his squad playing through injuries and a punishing run of games testing their fitness levels to the limit, Cowley’s side have lost just one Vanarama National League game in their last nine ahead of tonight’s home encounter with Dover Athletic.

Braintree’s finances mean they are limited in the size of squad they can have so injuries to players will push them, but they have performed magnificently in recent games and still boast the division’s best defensive record.

It has helped keep the Iron within one point of the play-off places and Cowley hopes people in and around Braintree will get behind the efforts of his players.

“I just want the people of Braintree to get with us and be behind us because they should be proud of this football team,” he said.

“We have got some boys who would put their head in front of a bus for the club.

“I feel inspired by their commitment and desire to go the extra yard for the team.

“I think you see that more when we’re in a situation like we are with the current injuries we’ve got.

“To be able to back up tiring games with high-energy performances like we’ve had is great.”

A tough and gruelling run of recent fixtures has seen Cowley’s side pick up a number of injuries, with Dan Sparkes and Chez Isaac missing the 0-0 home draw against Grimsby Town on Saturday.

Sam Habergham and Mark Phillips played through knocks in that game, while Kenny Davis went off in the second half with a dead leg, but the Iron players showed their mettle to shut out one of the top-flight’s most free-scoring attacks.

All may face injury tests ahead of the visit of Dover Athletic tonight.

Cowley added: “We will have to have a head count as we picked up another couple of injuries against Grimsby.

“That adds to what we already had, but we know what we are and we can’t do anything about that.

“The finances mean we can only have a small group.

“We have high quality in the group but it is a small group.

“For us to be successful, we have to stay on the right side of injuries, but we’re not doing that at the moment.

“That’s not the fault of anyone but it’s the level of commitment and endeavour of the players.

“They are pushing their bodies to the limit and as a consequence, when you get to that position, you are liable to pick up pulls and strains and tightness.

“We have players who would put their head in front of a bus for the football team so it’s no surprise that we pick up injuries sometimes.

“However, we’ll dust ourselves down.

“We have a no excuses mentality so whatever injuries we’ve got, we’ll accept and give it all on Tuesday night.”