GARY Smith has praised the Stevenage fans for sticking by his side during a difficult spell - and hopes to provide them some cheer in the next couple of games.

Boro entertain Colchester United on Saturday, a side who are fighting relegation in League 1, and Smith hopes a positive result there can feed into Tuesday night’s home clash against Brentford.

“If we can get ourselves on the right track on Saturday, it bodes well for Tuesday against Brentford.

“These things are interlinked – you don’t perform well you don’t look forward to the next game, and neither do the fans. You perform well and everybody can’t wait till Tuesday.

“It’s our job to try and create that environment. The fans have done a wonderful job of trying to stay behind the team in a difficult run, and of course I would urge that to continue.”

Stevenage go into the game against Joe Dunne’s Colchester on the back of a five-game losing streak, while the Essex side turned around some recent poor form on Tuesday with a 2-0 victory against high-flying Yeovil.

Smith added: “I know Joe Dunne ever so well, he’s a good friend and he has done a real good job there.

“The season didn’t necessarily start off the way they would have liked and I think they have been chasing it ever since really.

“I think Joe’s philosophy is to try play real good football and a professional-based game with technically gifted players and I think he implemented that early on and [now] I think he has realised to get results, that’s got to be changed slightly.

“They’ve added bodies, some young some more experienced. They had a terrific win in the week against Yeovil, who had been on a terrific run, but they have also found life difficult themselves at time.

“It’s extremely important for ourselves to really attack the game and against a side that are going to be fighting for points as well as we are.”