Boro skipper hopes to build on Newcastle win

Mark Roberts says he hopes Stevenage can build on their FA Cup triumph over Newcastle United when they travel to Chesterfield this weekend.

The Boro skipper said the 3-1 victory over the Magpies had given his side a lift going into training this week but that his players know they face a difficult test against the npower League 2 leaders.

Roberts said: “Obviously it was an incredible achievement last weekend, and we fully deserved the win having put in that performance.

“There has [been a spring in the step] this week. Regardless of results we always try to be upbeat and confident, but results like that give you a massive life but we’re now focused on trying to get a result at the weekend and getting up the league.

“We were good last season at going on winning runs and we’ll hope to do that now but we know Chesterfield are strong at home and are a good side.”

Boro have the joint best defensive record in the league having conceded just 19 goals, the same number as Port Vale, but after going on a run before the turn of the year of five games with just three goals scored they have now hit seven in their last two matches.

Roberts said the side has been working hard on getting the defensive formula right and have been proactive in getting forward as a team.

“There has been a bit more of an emphasis on scoring goals, and scoring from set pieces, but to score four and three is moving in the right direction.

“Earlier in the season we were struggling for goals but we’ve said all along that we defend as a team and attack as a team and we’ve been proactive in the way we defend with an emphasis on attacking.”

Asked whether other clubs in League 2 may see Stevenage as a scalp following the club’s FA Cup heroics, Roberts said: “Possibly. When you’re on the back of a fantastic victory teams may approach the game and think that by beating us it’s a scalp but we got used to that last season being top of the league and I hope to thrive on that.”