Darren Sarll hailed the winning mentality that his squad have grown over the season after Saturday's 1-0 win against Barnet.
Although the performance wasn’t a thing of beauty, Sarll was proud of how his players got the all-important three points that keeps the club in fourth place.
“I have just spoken to the players in there and said you have got a lovely habit – you know how to win.
“Credit to them because no-one is going to make it easy, no-one is going to let us waltz and play our way through.
“There is going to be so many occasions where we are going to have to dig deep, roll up our sleeves and make sure we find an answer, find a way. I was very pleased. I think it is a lovely position to be in when you are not playing in full flow but you are still winning.”
The win also means a fifth clean sheet in six games for Stevenage, conceding only one goal – a penalty at Blackpool.
“The back five have been terrific, absolutely terrific. I think from yesterday we had the best (recent) defensive record in the country alongside Man City. Another clean sheet today and I’m sure we have strengthened that claim.
“It was comfortable. Like I said, the group of players now know how to win and they have shown that. There were no airy scary moments at the end or things like that. Winning has become habitual and that is a terrific trait to have, I am proud that my team have that trait.”
The winning goal came from Tom Pett early in the first half and after needing nine stitches to sew up his leg during the week, Sarll was full of praise for the midfielder.
“Magnificent. The team talk was, ‘We will win today because of the sacrifice that the players have given’. What Tom has sacrificed this morning to say, ‘No - put me in, I am fine’. Big credit to Tom for showing such commitment and desire.
“When he scored his goal I was delighted because he put himself in harm’s way. He knew the risk and I wanted to make sure he did know the risk, but he is a grown man and I felt he earned the right to make that decision as a man and a very important member of our side.
“I didn’t see him wince or pull out of one tackle all afternoon.”
That is now eight straight home wins, 10 from the last 13 overall and Sarll says their appetite to win only continues to grow.
“It is a terrific record. Winning home and away has been part of why we are in such a good position at the start of April but We have to keep winning everywhere. The demand for winning is insatiable and the demand to keep winning and keep performance levels high is very much on the tip of our tongue all the time.”
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