Stevenage FC manager Darren Sarll has expressed his disappointment in his side’s recent form, but believes Boro could be about to turn a corner.

One win in their last 10 league games has seen Stevenage slide down the Sky Bet League Two table, a situation that Sarll and his players are keen to resolve.

The 34-year-old told the Comet: “It’s not been good enough. No one pretends it has, no one hides from that.

“We have to resolve it and resolve it pretty quickly. That is really important.

“The players are as desperate as anyone to halt that and we have a terrific chance in a couple of days to try and remedy the situation.

“No one enjoys losing or being on a losing run, but I thrive on people saying this isn’t good enough.

“It sharpens my focus, how I want to work and it makes me fiercer.

“The players are similar and that’s why in the past we’ve come out of these situations and won nine in a row, eight in a row or not been beaten in 12. We know it’s there.

“This is no different to last year. I’m quite calm and methodical about it because we’ve gone through these periods before and always come out the other side.

“Last year we didn’t win at home for three months or something ridiculous like that. We won one of the last nine games of the season, but we had a good season overall.

“We always come out the other side and we do so because of the quality of the people here. Forget about footballers, it’s their work ethic and determination.”

The FA Cup has provided Stevenage with some relief from their league campaign.

A 5-0 defeat of Nantwich Town in the first round was followed by an impressive 5-2 win over fellow League Two side Swindon Town to set up a highly anticipated clash with Championship side Reading FC in the third round.

The performance against Swindon, as well as draws against some of the fourth tier’s strongest sides, have pleased Sarll – with the Boro boss keen to stress the positives of a poor spell.

“We’ve only lost three in nine so it’s not like we’ve lost six games in a row where it’s defeat after defeat, negative after negative,” he said.

“There have been some incredible performances like the Swindon win in the FA Cup and the points earned against Notts County, Coventry and Wycombe.

“All of those were good points and that’s something I want us to improve on from last season, making sure we collect those draws when they are there rather than going mad and losing those points.

“But, there are other performances like Saturday against Exeter that are just damn right not good enough, they then have to be told and we go about our work.

“I believe in the quality and calibre we have here, and I believe in the fact that we will make it right.”

Stevenage have three games remaining this year with Chesterfield FC the visitors tomorrow.

Trips to Lincoln City and Crawley Town follow and Sarll is keen to pick up at least one win from those games and he believes consistency is the key for his men.

“The expectation over the last 12 months has been completely different,” said the 34-year-old.

“We expect a certain style, a certain speed to our play and a certain level of commitment. These expectations are high levels. Sometimes it’s hard in League Two.

“The one thing you always ask from your players is consistency but that defines the level you play at.

“It comes and it’ll come again, we’ll fly off and all roads will lead to the promise land but, for now, we have to address the simple fact that we need to get a win before the close of the year.

“Saturday at home to Chesterfield, where I think we’ve been pretty decent and put on some good performances at The Lamex, is the perfect opportunity.”