Stevenage FC

Manager Gary Smith spoke to Boro’ Player about how his side will be looking to bounce back against MK Dons on Saturday after the loss of their remarkable unbeaten start to the season last weekend at Colchester.

Boro’ lost 1-0 to the U’s last weekend in a game which left Smith unhappy with some of the decisions that went against his side as Anthony Grant was harshly sent off for receiving two yellow cards.

However the gaffer is eager to move on and focus on the next game which will be a very challenging one away to rival promotion chasers MK Dons.

“We have got to get back on track again, most teams expect at some point that they are going to have a little difficulty and ours was born out of some difficult circumstances at Colchester. Nevertheless we will find out the true character and quality of any group when they have come back after a defeat.”

The Dons are still unbeaten at home and Smith knows it will be a real test for his team however he has full belief that they can come away with a positive result.

“Our home form has been very good and if they are going to get a result it looks like it will be at their place, it is a big pitch and good surface, they play to their strengths and they are a good footballing side but we have proved that when we play away from home that we have plenty of qualities ourselves.

“ We are competitive and have shown some good dimensions when we go forward, predominantly on the counter attack however some of the work we have done this week will hopefully show us that we are capable of building pressure and taking advantage of some very good individuals.”

Over the summer there was a massive turn around in personnel and this was a great opportunity for Gary to build a team into a very competitive outfit capable of challenging for promotion and he highlights the attributes and quality that his side possesses.

“When the group was pieced together in the off season there was a big emphasis based on trying to find more creative players and I think we have already shown that there has been some excellent individual displays, Luke Freeman, Lucas Akins, Filipe Morais, Greg Tansey they are all very creative players that’s not even mentioning Pat Agyemang and Marcus Haber who are effective in their own right.

“What we have not been able to do is just build pressure as much as we would like and control games as much as we would like especially away from home. The players are ready to do that but part of our evolution as team and with a lot of new faces is to do that more regularly.”

Over the coming month The Lamex Stadium will see some strong teams including Portsmouth and Swindon attempt to take points off high flying Boro’ and Gary is truly looking forward to the challenge.

“We have a big month coming up, once we break out of October there is some real tough games and if we look at the games coming up in the next week MK away, Portsmouth then Swindon at home with Portsmouth on a good run and Swindon one of the stronger sides in the league. So it won’t get easier, I don’t think anyone expects it to but most importantly we want to get ourselves back in the groove and back on a run again. So Saturday full steam ahead and get the boys right on track and fully focused on the challenge.”

To see the full interview with Gary Smith and who is back from fitness and ready for selection log into your Boro Player account now!