Stevenage hit a bump in the road last Saturday as Darren Sarll’s side came unstuck against Wycombe, going down 1-0 in a tightly contested game at Adams Park.
Speaking after the game, Sarll spoke about his pride in how the players performed and ahead of facing Exeter this weekend, the manager reiterated those thoughts.
“I found after making that comment that some people were quite surprised with what I said," Sarll said. "So, I went back and watched the game again and I was even prouder of what the players did. They (Wycombe) make it very, very difficult for you and quite rightly so – it shouldn’t be easy.
“It is a tough place but I thought the players handled it very, very well. Statistically, challenges won was very high, there was lots of energy, we are pleased with the amount of distance the team covered, pleased with the amount of entry into the final third. I thought it was a massive improvement.
“People can go back to what I have said previously – my aim this year is to re-establish Stevenage as Stevenage and being competitive. One of the things Stevenage always did was fight until the bitter end and what I liked about my side on Saturday was that they fought until the bitter end.”
With two home wins under the belt already this month, the team are enjoying life at the Lamex Stadium and Sarll see’s tomorrow’s game as another opportunity for the players to prove themselves.
“I still think we are trying to win over people, I really do. I think we are trying to win over the league, anyone that is on the outside of this training ground and outside the Lamex and quite rightly so. Last year was last year and it will take a while to make people believe again.
“I am pleased with our progress and Saturday is another chance to progress some more," Sarll continued. "The league will start taking shape very, very shortly and we will have a greater idea of who is going to be in and around it.
“The people on the outside don’t see what goes on here day to day, how hard the players work, how long they train and the type of interaction that goes on.
“They are human beings, they are going to have iffy or bad Saturday’s every now and then like anyone does in their job but we are trying very hard to re-establish this football club as a competitive force. Whilst I see the fight and determination that I saw last Saturday and in recent weeks, I am always going to have the hope that we can achieve our targets.”