Boss Yates determind to reverse bad form

DINO Maamria demanded a response from his Stevenage player afters back-toback league defeats, and got it as Danny Newton scored his first of the season to secure a win over Macclesfield.

The Boro boss was angered at the performances in defeats to Cambridge and Yeovil, but admitted he was pleased with his side’s application at Lamex Stadium.

“We needed this after last week’s loss and I asked for a reaction from the players – it was a good win for us,” he said.

“There’s no easy game in League Two and they’re fighting for their lives, it was like the land of the giants towards the end of the game and they did put us under a little bit of pressure, but we managed to see the game out.

“It’s still early stages and we’re in a brilliant position, but it’s still a work in progress, it’s going to take time.

“My focus is always on the next game and improving the team, you can’t look too far ahead because then you lose perspective.”

The Silkmen rarely threatened in what was a game of few chances and their winless start to the season now stretches to eight games under new boss Mark Yates.

Stevenage were unlucky not to find an opener in the 32nd minute after Joel Byrom’s cross from the right found Alex Revell at the back post, but his header was cleared off the line by Danny Whitaker.

Boro dominated the first half and deservedly took the lead when Newton rose highest from Ben Kennedy’s corner to head home from close range.

“We weren’t good enough in the first half although we improved in the second half, we can’t keep doing this every time,” said Yates.

“We’ve got to make better decisions because we’ve got done by another set piece.

“We had the ball in and around their box but we weren’t clinical enough and they got blocks on it, but we’re talking about two completely different halves of football from our team again.

“We talked about coming here and being tough, resilient and hard to beat and I think for periods in the first half we didn’t show that.

“The buck stops with me because I’m the manager, but I think the chairman has been clever in bringing me in because he knows we’ll be alright – he knows we’ll turn in around.”