Darren Sarll admits that his side were ‘well and truly beaten’ on Saturday as Colchester inflicted a shock 4-0 defeat on Boro.
It is only the second loss in the last fourteen league games and the manager hopes to bounce back quickly on Good Friday at home to Morecambe.
“The players, myself and everyone else at the football club has quite rightly taken some great praise and lovely words over the last couple of months. To do the right thing and to be honest, we were well and truly beaten by the better team.
“The one thing I have always stood by with these players in the past is that they always respond and they always react and we will certainly be looking for a reaction next Friday.
“I think their form and performances of late gives them a little bit of breathing space in terms of criticism but it does make us come back down to earth. Hopefully that will be the fire and motivation that drives us on for five more games.”
The one big positive from the game was 18 year old academy product Mark McKee coming on for his professional debut in the 70th minute.
Sarll believes McKee has a big future.
“I always try and take something out of every game. Mark has been exception of late in the reserves and in training with the first team, he is a wonderful talent.
“When I saw him at (the age of) 15 in Belfast at Cliftonville, he was some player then and I was desperate to bring him here.
“Mark can be anything he wants. He can be the best one we have ever blooded. In all the years back, even extending back to Georgey, this boy can be a very good player.
“It is a good day for him despite the disappointing afternoon for us as an organisation but I felt that by getting Dayle and Mark Mckee on, that we got something out of the game that will benefit the club in the long run.”
Finally, Sarll praised the travelling fans who continued to show their support for the team throughout the full 90 minutes.
“The supporters were terrific today. It was really positive at the end to see the way they encouraged the players and wanted to see them show a bit of spark, a bit of fight and I am very grateful for their reaction.
“I think if we just wipe that (the game) from our memory and sweep it under the carpet it does a disservice to the fans who have travelled and been brilliant.
“88 minutes, Stevenage are 4-0 down and they are singing my song about my football club. I couldn’t have been prouder of the supporters.
“We have to go back, we have to look because we have to make sure we learn from every opportunity given and we go again.”
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