Despite the disappointment of losing today’s League 1 opener, Stevenage boss Graham Westley said there were pleasing moments throughout the game and a number of positives to take.
“I went into the game a little bit apprehensive if I’m honest, knowing I had so many lads stepping up a level, trying to find the League 1 level and so many new players playing together.
“There were some pleasing moments throughout the 90, we’ll take the reaction to going to 3-1 down and the quality of what they did was a real positive in terms of the character that’s there.
“The mistake that went on during the 90 will be pretty easy to eradicate and when we’ve had games together I don’t think you’ll be seeing the type of errors we saw today. Decisions people will talk about, Darius in
particular seems very harshly done for with the penalty that eventually won the game. He said it’s hit his knee and bounced up onto his shoulder or upper arm. If that’s the case it’s a tough one to have given against you when you’ve done so well to get back into the game.
“The opening day is always a difficult affair, lads making their debuts, lads playing together for the first time. I thought there were some positives, despite the result.
“Too many lads were probably so focused on their own performance today that they didn’t really play as a team until they had to. When they had to they showed what a team can really do when it really gets itself together and lets itself off the leash."