Darren Sarll is not panicking over Stevenage’s lack of league victories – saying it really took until January last year to get the winning feeling going.

Boro have started this year’s Sky Bet League Two campaign with two draws, despite being in winning positions against both Newport County and Colchester United.

But unlike last season the boss is not worried, saying he has seen plenty of positives so far and believes the first win won’t be long in coming.

“I thought we were the better team at Colchester,” he said. “It was a good performance and one where I could see a good side evolving.

“I’ll keep saying this until I’m blue in the face, we’re a little bit behind because of the injuries we had in pre-season. But I’ve seen a progression week-on-week.

“The winning habit and winning mechanic is always the one we’re trying to seek but we’re getting closer to that and I really believe that.

“It took us until January last year really to get it on a consistent basis but we’ll be looking for that little switch in fortunes on Saturday.

“Hopefully Saturday will be the day that mechanic falls into place and we can take that first win.”

Ben Kennedy and Matt Godden all featured at some point against Colchester and with only Jack King not fully fit, Stevenage should be as close to full strength as they’ve been all season.

Sarll said: “It’s a long season as we found out last year but we’re being progressive and the way to be progressive is to get your starters back in that starting 11.

“It’s not rocket science. We’ve got a solid foundation to our play and now we can improve it with the calibre of individuals that are slowly returning to our squad.

“We’re in great shape for Saturday, and we’ve certainly improved it since 5pm at Colchester and we’ll be looking for a better performance and, more importantly as I’ve said, that winning mechanic.”

Grimsby Town provide the opposition tomorrow (Saturday) at the Lamex and Sarll was full of praise for his opposite number, Russell Slade.

He said: “They had a terrific opening day win at Chesterfield and Russell [Slade] is a vastly experienced manager that a young man like myself should be looking up to.

“I’ve got massive respect for him, especially with the work he did at Leyton Orient at that time.

“He’s managed some massive football clubs and Grimsby will be a good side in the same manner Russell has always produced.

“If you go to Chesterfield and put three past them on their own patch, you’re a good side.

“But it’s important that we seek our winning dynamic and formula and try and implement that in the game rather than worry about Grimsby.

“We’ll show the right amount of respect that any professional side are due and then look to trample all over it like everyone does.”