RAPHAEL Branco believes Town should be targeting the top half of the League One table, having got their first win in 13 games on Saturday.

The Brazilian played a big part in securing new boss Martin Ling his first three points in the County Ground dugout, scoring one of the two goals. Now, the stand-in skipper has his sights set on a push up the table.

It says a lot that the man signed from Conference South outfit Whitehawk just two seasons ago is now an established first team member. His stature on and off the field has grown considerably and in Town’s spell of poor form, he has not shirked responsibility.

The 25-year-old has retained a belief in his teammates and is adamant they have the quality to be higher in the table, and has set them a tough challenge of doing so by the festive break.

“If you see our squad, we have such a good team,” Branco told the local media.

“We can’t be where we are at the moment. I think we (have the quality) to be in top 12 by Christmas.

“If we keep doing what we’ve been doing, we’ll be there, getting results, going away and playing the same way we did at home and getting the points we need.

“The team we have has to be looking for (the) top six, but (wins) are what we’re looking for.

“We still have a lot of work to do and by Christmas, we have to be in the top 12.”

Branco said that win over Scunthorpe should provide the squad with confidence to make that aim a reality but he also knows they have to keep working on the training ground.

The defender believes the arrival of Ling has invigorated his teammates and appreciates having the time to work with him on implementing his ideas without the distraction of midweek games.

“When you just play one game a week, you can work a little bit more on the formation and the way you want to play,” added Branco.

“The last two weeks have been like that and we have a full week again and we go to Fleetwood away with the same mentality - to get the three points.

“We’re working in different ways and Martin Ling, he has his way to work and things he believes in, like set-pieces and the way we go and attack the ball and defend the ball.”

For guiding Town to their first home win since the opening day, Ling has been handed the Football League Manager of the Week Award, with Ben Gladwin in the team of the week.