Westley still hopeful over Stevenage survival - 7M sport

Westley still hopeful over Stevenage survival



Posted Sunday, February 16, 2020 by PA

Westley still hopeful over Stevenage survival

Graham Westley insists that there remains life in Stevenage’s survival battle despite his side falling to their seventh defeat in a row in a 1-0 loss to Salford.

Brandon Thomas-Asante’s 32nd-minute strike proved to be the decider at the Lamex Stadium, leaving Boro seven points from safety in Sky Bet League Two.

But Westley was quick to hail the attitude of his charges as they battled adverse weather conditions to stick to their game plan, and he believes they have what it takes to produce a miracle.

“Unlucky is a word I hate, but I feel gutted for the players,” he said.

“I cannot fault the effort and courage to get on the ball and pass it in these conditions.

“We were on the front foot throughout, but we have been done by a clinical counter.

“There is a lot of hope in the dressing room as well as disappointment. We know we are doing things right and we are fighting.

“We were a little bit hesitant, we delayed the shot and crosses; we just need to be a bit more clinical and the players to trust themselves a bit more.

“You can see what is out there being turned into a run of significant home results.

“We have had a tough run of games and had long journeys, but nine of the last 12 games are against the bottom 12 sides.

“There are lots of head to heads and games we need to win. It is in our own hands, but we need to get the first win.”

Stevenage went into the match having last tasted victory back in mid-January but had the better of things for large portions of the game, with the likes of Jake Cassidy and Dan Kemp all coming close.

But they were punished for their profligacy by Thomas-Asante’s winner, and Salford boss Graham Alexander hailed the crucial moment of quality that went his side’s way.

“It was a tough game physically for the players, but the outstanding quality on show was the goal and we are glad that we got it,” he said.

“It was a game for doing the basics well and I thought we did that.

“They came forward in numbers as the game went on to try and get back into it, but I thought we stood up to that well.

“If we had taken care of the ball better, we could have got another goal and made it easier, but we did what we had to do to win the game.

“We are looking at our home form compared to our away form and scratching our heads.

“Our home form has been disappointing, but we are right up there with our away form.

“We have got to keep doing what we believe in and the rewards will come.”

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