Braintree Town manager Alan Devonshire feels his players can take plenty of heart amid their disappointment after a rousing backs-to-the-wall effort at Bristol Rovers.

The Iron are in the middle of a gruelling week of Vanarama Conference Premier action that is seeing them travel more than 1,000 miles for three games against promotion-chasing clubs in eight days.

It concludes with Saturday’s trip to Grimsby Town before a return to home action on Tuesday against Macclesfield Town, but the opening two games in the tough trio have both brought late heartbreak for the Iron.

A stoppage-time goal denied them a point at FC Halifax Town last weekend and another late goal saw them lose at Rovers in midweek after battling bravely with ten men for the final hour of the match.

And Devonshire was proud of his players.

He said: “After going down to ten men it was tough, but you can’t knock the effort and how well we played.

“I think the turning point was actually just after half-time when their keeper made a hell of a save from a shot by Simeon.

“That would have made it 2-1 and given us something to hold on to, but it wasn’t to be.

“However, I’m really proud of them and we can take stuff from it.

“How well we played is the main one and it was unusual but the Bristol crowd stayed at the end and gave my boys a standing ovation.

“They have to take heart from that.

“It was difficult playing with ten men against a team who were unbeaten in 18 or 19 games and even though I’m disappointed, I’m very proud.”