Stevenage manager Darren Sarll was delighted with his side’s performance as they unwrapped a nice early Christmas present by thumping Chesterfield 5-1 at The Lamex Stadium on Saturday.

Danny Newton, Dale Gorman and a Zak McCourt own goal put the home side 3-1 in front before a Matt Godden brace in the second half capped off an impressive performance.

Sarll was most pleased with his team’s attitude as they looked to kill off the game instead of sitting deep and soaking up pressure.

The 34-year-old told the Comet: “Our players showed a relentless attitude to keep going.

“We didn’t get to 2-1 or 3-1 and think ‘let’s manage the game, slow it down and sit off’. They showed great application to keep pushing a try to kill off the opposition.

“It’s only one error or mistake that gets a team back into a game in League Two so I thought their attitude to being ahead and their foresight to say ‘come on, we can kick on here’ was really terrific. That was the most pleasing part of the day.

“I was also really pleased with the players taking the ethos and ethics of what is my coaching career in terms of a high, intense press and they put on a great display doing it.

“The defensive work of the front three to press, be alive and alert was of the highest order.”

Apart from Krystian Dennis’ headed goal just before half-time – which pulled Chesterfield back into the game at 2-1 – the visitors caused very few problems.

It is something that Sarll puts down to the good defensive work of his back four in the second half.

“I thought the last 15 minutes of the first half were very open but what a response from the players to concede and then go and get the third before the break,” he added.

“We were lock tight in the second half and the back four were very resilient and disciplined.

“We addressed the threats that Chesterfield might present at half-time and we dealt with that brilliantly.”

The victory was Stevenage’s first in eight league games and secured a much needed three points ahead of a busy Christmas period.

Despite the poor run of form, there was little negativity amongst his players according to Sarll and he was pleased that the home supporters got to see the kind of performance he does every week at the club’s Bragbury End training ground.

“I don’t think I was too calm this time last week but it sums up League Two,” he said.

“It might only be one win in eight but it was only three loses in nine so there wasn’t a huge amount of despondency or negativity around the group.

“I don’t think the result is a major relief because of the way the club handles itself in these times.

“We were three losses in nine before so it didn’t feel around the training ground like loss, loss, loss, loss, loss.

“There was a disappointment but not negativity and I applaud the players for that. They’ve stuck together all week and I think they’ve been brilliant.

“It was nice for everyone to see because I see that kind of performance Monday to Friday on the training pitch every week.

“The difference is that the players managed to put on a show-stopping performance when the curtain came down and the lights came up.”