Darren Sarll says that although he felt the mood in the camp was positive before Tuesday night’s game at Hartlepool, it has certainly gone up a notch since the win.
“There hasn’t been too many times in the last ten games where we have had that feeling afterwards - there was a definite difference there.
“Actually before the game, even though we got beat on the Saturday, I thought spirits were very, very high still building on from the four days we had leading up to the Crawley game. Training Monday was excellent, very vibrant so I didn’t think there was a massive hangover from the Crawley game but you can’t beat that feeling when you win so it was nice.”
Having taken over a struggling team, Sarll explained how raising standards and getting the players to take ownership has been some of the key changes he has made since last Monday.
“I am just working how I have always worked. I have tried to raise standards because let’s make no bones about it, standards were not good enough. We have tried to raise expectations, give the players a different strategy, shape, philosophy of play and we have worked very hard at it.
“The fact that the players had their say meant that it made them buy into what they wanted to do.
"So for example, when they did start making their suggestions, I want them to have ownership of this place. They are the ones who have got to play at 3 o’clock, they are the ones who have got to wear our shirt and play for the town. They have to commit to their opinions otherwise they don’t really believe in what they are saying and do I want that type or person at my football club? Absolutely not.”
The proof is in the pudding though and Sarll says that winning on Tuesday was massive as it only adds weight to his methods.
“Especially after Saturday was the biggest test of all because players can think they believe in you and they can think you know what you are doing, but until you get that win, until they can see your plan come into fruition they don’t really 100% sell themselves and throw themselves into it. So Tuesday night was really poignant in that it gave real evidence in what we are doing, worked.”
Cambridge are the visitors to the Lamex on Saturday and Sarll believes it will be a big opportunity for the players to test themselves.
“It is a great game for us, a really great game for us. My expectation is that this is a quite comfortably top half of the table side in this building and we get the chance to play a top half of the table side. What an opportunity to do that in a local derby, what an opportunity to test ourselves against a team that are right in it and really striving to get in them play-off places.
“It will be a real indication of how far we have come on our little adventure and where we need to keep on developing and where we need to strengthen and add.”
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