WESTLEY SALUTES PLAYERS’ EFFORTS
RETURNING Stevenage boss Graham Westley will be looking for more of the same from his players at Plymouth after praising their effort and endeavour in the draw against Forest Green.
Despite being pitted against playoff contenders Rovers, bottom club Stevenage produced a spirited display to claim a draw, almost winning it when Elliott List and Ben Kennedy went close.
“I was pleased over 90 minutes,” said Westley. “I thought there were some rough patches and rough edges in the first half and we tried to iron those out at half-time.
“In the second half we tried to implement some of the work we’ve done together. We really took the game to them, created numerous chances, and on another day that’s enough to win.
“I know we hear that a lot in football, but we’ve hit the bar and come close with some other good chances. On a different day we win.
“I thanked the players because their effort and endeavour are what Stevenage are about. There’s always going to be a fluidity factor.
“That can happen if I put too many of the wrong players together and I need to work really hard to get to know the players. It takes time for a manager and players to gel.”
Stevenage shot stopper Paul Farman produced a fine double save to keep the visitors at bay.
First he kept Carl Winchester’s strike out, before denying Ebou Adams from close range.
After the break it was the hosts who had the best chances. Ben Kennedy was the source of Stevenage’s creativity as List was denied by Adam Smith, before hitting wide.
On the hour, Smith palmed Kennedy’s strike around a post and, late on, Jason Cowley nodded Kennedy’s cross against the bar.
Opposition boss Mark Cooper admitted he was relieved to come away with a point.
“It was a poor game in horrible conditions,” he said. “I’m glad to get out of here with a draw and we need to be better.
“I’m delighted with a point and I said to the players they looked as though they’d eaten five turkeys each, had a bottle of sherry each and a bath full of trifle each.
“We didn’t play well individually. We kept a clean sheet and that’s a bonus. Whatever formation we pick, it doesn’t matter if your desire and quality isn’t as much as the other team, then you’ll struggle to win.
“We’re limping towards January, I can’t wait until January. I brought two strikers on, we had three strikers on the pitch to try to create something and nothing happened for us.
“We’ve got to get our own house in order and make sure we’re at our levels.”