Darren Sarll called Tom Pett’s performance ‘outstanding’ after the winger played a huge part in Stevenage’s win at Newport County.

The 25-year-old was given a verbal kick up the backside by Sarll after Saturday’s defeat to Doncaster Rovers with the Boro manager saying the next six games could make or break Pett, but he took last night’s game by the scruff of the neck in a dazzling display.

It was his low shot which took a big deflection off Darren Jones to open the scoring. Pett then nodded in on the line for goal number two in a pretty straightforward evening for Boro in south Wales in a result which moves the club up to ninth in the table.

Speaking about his winger’s performance, Sarll said: “He was outstanding. I thought his work ethic and organisation was great and he got that little bit of joy because of his work rate.

“He showed great desire for his second one to get himself in there and put his little pea-shaped head right in the way and force it over the line but that’s the desire we’ve got here [at Stevenage].

“That desire comes all the way from the chairman and hopefully from me and the players.

“How many times in the last calendar year have we spoken about Stevenage being in the top 10? It’s been a good night.”

Sarll continued: “It’s a tough place to come if you want to pass the ball. The opposition make it difficult with their strategy and the pitch makes it difficult on its own.

“It’s a massive three points for us.”