Hayden Bird insists his Carshalton Athletic side will only have themselves to blame if they fail to push for promotion in the Ryman Premier league this season.

The Robins stepped up their pre-season preparations with a comfortable 3-1 win over Redbridge on Saturday.

But rather than concern himself with what the likes of Sutton United and Dartford are doing, Bird reckons he simply needs to keep things in house.

He said: “To be perfectly honest I think it is all about us this season.

“I have not really watched anyone else this summer or paid much attention to what teams have been up to.

“As far as I am concerned if we can realise our potential and build on what we achieved last season we will be one of the teams to beat this season - no doubt about it.”

Richard Jolly (two) and Charlie Ide were on target at the weekend, and it is the burgeoning strike force, with new signing Frankie Sawyer waiting in the wings, that gives Bird such cause for optimism.

He added: “I reckon between the three of them we have 60 goals there and that gives a massive lift to any side.

“I think Richard will have another great season, and then throw in Charlie and Frankie and that is pretty formidable.

“The big plus for us this season is we are obviously not going to have to rely on Richard for goals - there are goals throughout the team and that makes us very dangerous.”

One thing still not sorted however is Bird’s preferred line-up, with the Robins boss admitting he still has some tinkering to do.

He added: “We are pretty much on course - there are still one or two areas that I need to think about but nothing major.

“The games are coming along nicely and the Redbridge match was very comfortable and a pretty routine win.

“The new players coming in have raised the bar for everybody and that will only help the squad develop.

“We are very close and there is no doubt we will be ready for the start of the season.”

Carshalton Athletic’s first three matches: Aug 15 Maidstone United (a), 18 Bognor Regis Town (h), 22 Ashford Town (h)