After a decent start to the season, Stevenage came back down to earth with a bump at Kenilworth Road on 14 October as promotion contenders and near-neighbours Luton hit them for seven. Darren Sarll publicly lambasted his players following the final whistle but questions remain. Have the club put their humiliation behind them? Could this be seen as a turning point in their season?
Photo: The Comet
Sarll didn’t hold back following the defeat, suggesting his players “have disgraced our club and our town“. His no-holds-barred approach seemed to have an immediate effect; Boro bouncing back against Accrington just a few days later. Late goals from Matty Godden and Ben Kennedy clinched all three points at the Lamex. Still, they’ve been unable to build on that result since. Perhaps that comprehensive defeat is still playing on the minds of some of their younger players?
Have Boro’ Bounced Back After Luton?
Their defence hasn’t managed to keep a clean sheet since shipping those seven goals. This said, perhaps the draw with League Two leaders Notts County on 11 November is a sign of things improving. They are an incredibly young side and there are just three players in the squad over the age of 30. This may not help matters. Following disappointing or dispiriting results, older heads are often helpful for motivational purposes. Their vast experience can often help lift morale. Yet, Boro have few of these to call upon.
Prior to their dismantling at the hands of the Hatters, Stevenage had won three of four. As a result of their early season form, they sit comfortably in 13th but need to get back to winning ways soon. The playoffs are still within sight for Sarll’s men and that defeat must be written off as an anomaly if they wish to focus on their push towards the top seven. Most football tips online are favouring Luton to secure the title. Stevenage, meanwhile, are at 15.00 to secure promotion this season.
Whether the 7-1 defeat can be seen as a turning point in their season is very much dependent on Stevenage’s finishing position. It has certainly halted any momentum they had gained during the opening two months of the campaign, though. They won in the EFL Trophy against Brighton Under 23s; a number of young players with the chance to impress. The Boro’ Academy is thriving and a number of graduates have featured throughout the course of the season already. Still, they may need some more players with experience to compete alongside them.
That defeat may still haunt many Stevenage fans. Their side, however, are now showing signs of progress. It’ll take a while to bounce back from the embarrassment. But it may have provided a decent opportunity for Darren Sarll to give some of the underperforming players a dressing down and a chance to assess which members of his squad could become surplus to requirements moving forward.
Boro have the chance to exact revenge on Nathan Jones’ men when the two teams meet again at the Lamex in February. They will certainly be hoping to take that opportunity. A young squad are always likely to need a couple of weeks to pick themselves up from such a heavy loss. But they do appear to be turning a corner; optimistic supporters hoping it can spur them on as they aim to gatecrash the play-off spots.
