After Saturday’s opening day defeat, Darren Sarll got the perfect response from his players on Tuesday night as Boro beat Ipswich 1-0 to advance to the Second Round of the EFL Cup.
It was a performance that more than warranted the result and speaking after the game, Sarll praised his players.
“It was nice to get that performance out of them after Saturday and I think you saw that disappointment turn into motivation tonight. The players really wanted to put in a gritty, determined performance against obviously a top club.
“They answered every critic tonight so fair play to them. I like the resolve in that group and it is a happy dressing room. It was a good night, everyone was very good.”
Sarll made three changes to the starting line-up with Gorman coming into midfield whilst Kennedy and Liburd were thrust into the attack.
“I thought young Dale Gorman came in and was magnificent.
“It is nice this season to have Ben Kennedy and Rowan Liburd in waiting for this occasion. I thought Ben got back to his mischievous self and there were a couple of flashes from Rowan that showed what he can hopefully fulfil in his time with us here.
“It was nice to be able to comfortably and confidently put them into the team, instead of Matt and Jake from Saturday and still have that belief that we are going to affect the game.”
Now into the Second Round of the EFL Cup, attention turns to Notts County on Saturday where Boro will attempt to post their first three points of the league season. Sarll knows a good result will take the same amount of effort as it did against Ipswich.
“It is a good performance, it is uplifting and it is morale boosting but I said to the players, to think that anything less than what they just put in will be required on Saturday, they would be wrong and in the wrong state of mind.
“So let’s get ourselves back on the floor again, get our feet firmly where they need to be and work towards winning at Notts County.”
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