“We took the game to them” - Westley

STEVENAGE boss Graham Westley said he was delighted with the attacking threat his team posed in their 1-1 draw with Rotherham United on Saturday.

Boro bossed the game from start to finish and had plenty of chances to go ahead before Nicky Law shocked the visitors by scoring in first half injury time.

Midfielder John Mousinho equalised for Stevenage in the second half before Chris Holroyd had a late effort ruled out for offside, and Westley said he was pleased with his side’s performance.

“The players have put in a sterling performance,” Westley said.

“They took the game to them, the ground was very quiet and the bulk of the play in the first half was ours – I lost count of the number of corners that we earned from some excellent attacking play.

“The midfield players got on the ball, they ran with it on the inside and the outside of the back four and I think they had a tough afternoon.

“It was a real shock to concede just before half time, that was a real body blow and I think we started the second half in shock.

“We saw 10 or 15 minutes where the game was nip and tuck with nobody really taking the game to the other but in the last half hour I think we got the ball down, we started working it, we were positive, penetrative, posing them problems, and we got the equaliser which was terrific and (we were) really disappointed not to see the winner given.”

Asked for his opinion on Holroyd’s ruled out effort on 93 minutes which had been set up by Yemi Odubade, Westley said: “Three things about it: number one, Yemi was virtually on the byline from my line of vision, secondly he pulled the ball back and thirdly we believe it got a touch off one of their players so irrespective of Chris’ position those things indicate a goal should have been given.

“(It) hasn’t been given, there’s no point dwelling on it, I’m sure the officials made an honest decision and sometimes those things go against you.”

Holroyd was terrific throughout for Boro, but at the other end Rotherham’s Adam Le Fondre – the top scorer in League 2 this season – was dealt with cleverly by Jon Ashton and captain Mark Roberts who got to him early and refused him the space he needed to work his magic.

“We came here and everyone was talking to me about Le Fondre, I was telling them to think about Holroyd,” Westley said.

“At the end of play today Chris Holroyd has put in a terrific performance throughout 90 minutes.

“We didn’t see a lot of Le Fondre out there this afternoon and I think Ashton and Roberts have really dominated that situation against a player that is undoubtedly a very good player at this level.”

* Further reacion online tomorrow (Tuesday).