TOTO Nsiala has never been to Braintree before – but he's been left in no doubt as to what to expect tonight.
The Congolese defender put in another solid performance as the Mariners recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over Dartford on Saturday.
It was their fourth win on the bounce – and second consecutive clean sheet in all competitions – and Nsiala was rightly pleased with the performance.
But the big centre-half was quick to turn his attentions to this evening for what will be his first experience of the Amlin Stadium – a ground on which Town have never won.
He said: "It was another good result on Saturday to keep the run going – that's back-to-back clean sheets for us now and that's particularly pleasing.
"We spoke about it in the dressing room afterwards and it's great to keep winning, but it's also nice for us defenders and keeper – to have a clean sheet – good result all round really! The back four is really solid at the moment.
"Aswad Thomas and Carl Magnay have been excellent and with Shaun Pearson, he's brilliant in the air so I just cover him – we've got a good understanding.
"He does all the talking, I just listen!"
He continued: "We've struggled to break down teams like Dartford at home in the past, but we'd spoken about that in the lead-up to the game and I think we addressed it quite well, putting three away.
"Now we're focused on tonight. I've never played at Braintree before, so I don't really know what to expect, but I've been told I'm going to enjoy it.
"The gaffer told me that we've never won there before, so let's see about changing that."
Saturday's victory moved the Mariners to within a point of the play-offs and Nsiala says the spirit within the squad is as strong as it's ever been.
He continued: "It's great at the moment – the manager says it's the strongest we've ever been.
"Even though there are lads not involved – and Scotty Brown's injured – we're all sticking together and working hard in training and it's paying off.
"Even the lads who aren't involved are pushing everyone else and the spirit is fantastic."
