Darren Sarll says he can see a big difference in his current Stevenage side to the one that he took over last year.

Sarll watched Boro lose 1-0 to Wycombe Wanderers at the weekend, the same result they succumbed to back in March just a month after he took the reins.

Yet while six months later the scoreline was repeated against the Chairboys, Sarll believes the performance and mentality from his squad were an improvement on the last time Boro visited Adams Park.

“Very few people will understand the difference [on Saturday] from last year,” Sarll said.

“I saw an enormous difference in mentality and quality to the team I brought here last year as caretaker.

“They never stopped once. They never stopped believing and went for it right to the end. The only criticism was the manner of their goal and that we didn’t take one of maybe eight half-chances or two or three good chances.”

That result leaves Stevenage 16th in League Two ahead of this weekend’s home match against Exeter City and Tuesday’s trip to Cheltenham Town.

The Grecians are struggling in 23rd but both of their victories in the league have come away from St James Park. Boro, meanwhile, have won their last three at home and have scored 11 goals at the Lamex.

One of their star performers in recent weeks has been Nottingham Forest loanee Tyler Walker.

He failed to score on Saturday despite a decent late chance, and Sarll is pleased with the standards the 19-year-old has set during his short time with the club.

“What we know about Tyler is he’s a good finisher,” Sarll said.

“The expectations and the standards he’s set [means] we expect him to score that one but we have to be balanced with [him].

“He’s a young lad and he’s going to miss chances. He’s still got three goals in three games for Stevenage.”