Darren Sarll was left with mixed emotions after the 2-1 win against Newport – pleased with the first half performance and victory but frustrated with how things transpired after the break.
Goals from Jake Mulraney and Aaron O’Connor put Stevenage in a 2-0 lead but Newport rallied in the second half, scoring late to make it 2-1.
“Let’s not hide behind anything. The first half was terrific; the second half wasn’t good enough. Very, very simple. It has been a little bit synonymous with our season really and it is something that has to be developed over the long term. We have to find that consistency not only with winning but with our performance levels as well. The priority was the points, delighted to have the points but there is a large deficit emotionally leaving the Lamex tonight that we really should be better.”
Boro could and possibly should have taken a more commanding lead at the break but Sarll was delighted with how the team played and says that a performance of that type should be what we come to expect.
“We have played as well as that in my time but not managed to get the two or even the one at times so I was happy to go in at 2-0 and I thought it was a terrific performance, a really good performance.
“I am hoping that is the little indication to the fans that that is what they should expect from my teams. I think the expectation should be that high and I think the standards should be raised to meet those expectations every week. It was a good performance to put in but like I said, we come away a little bit disappointed with the second half.”
With only four games left now and a 12 point gap between ourselves and the relegation zone, Football League safety is now within our grasp. Sarll explains how difficult it has been for his team playing under that pressure.
“Coming out of the Football League is a pressurised situation to be in so they have got to handle that and they have done terrific in the last five games to handle that and in the second half, they didn’t handle it very well.
“Anyone with any sort of ounce of human nature and understanding of human nature will accept that there has been a bit of pressure on them in recent months. Whatever happened they worked their hardest today.
“It is important we got over that hurdle, we are nearly there. We need to make sure that we finish our job professionally. We can do that Tuesday night and we will be trying to work towards that first half performance and duplicate it over longer periods.”
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