With three League Two wins on the spin at the Lamex Stadium, it is no surprise Stevenage boss Darren Sarll is eager to get back on home turf against Exeter City this Saturday.
That trio of triumphs though has been mixed with league losses at Grimsby Town and Wycombe Wanderers.
Speaking at his club’s Bragbury End training ground, Sarll, who also feels his side has plenty to prove to those on the outside, said: “We’re looking forward to getting back to the Lamex, it’s been a good place for us.
“I still think we are trying to win over everyone; anyone on the outside of this training ground and anyone on the outside of the Lamex.
“Quite rightly so, last year was last year and it will take a while for people to believe again.
“Beating Hartlepool 6-1, Crawley [2-1] was a terrific performance at home, despite the scoreline being a little closer than the Hartlepool one, I think we have been great, I’m pleased with our progress.
“Saturday is another chance for us to progress some more.
“I’m really pleased with where we are, the league will start taking shape very shortly and we’ll have a greater idea of whose going to be in and around it [the top].”
Since taking over as caretaker manager in February, and subsequently being given the job full-time over the summer, Sarll has strived to bring back Stevenage’s identity to the team.
“We are trying very hard to re-establish this club as a competitive force in this division,” he said.
“While I see the fight and determination I saw last Saturday [during the 1-0 loss at Wycombe] and in recent weeks, September has been good for us, I’m always going to have the hope to achieve our targets.”
While a novice in terms of football management, Sarll and his Stevenage side welcome Exeter City and their vastly experienced boss Paul Tisdale at the weekend.
Tisdale has been in charge of the Grecians for 10 years, something which Sarll holds great admiration for.
“I have got massive respect for the manager and what he’s achieved there,” said Sarll.
“Survival in management is the ultimate achievement in this era of hire and fire so what Paul has achieved there is absolutely fantastic.”
Of the encounter he added: “I can’t remember going into a League Two game in my time and thinking ‘this is going to be an easier game or this is going to be a tougher game’ they are all so tough.
“The quality of people in division four is of a really high standard, they work so hard to take what you want.
“They work as hard as they can, you work as hard as you can and on the day it will be things like fortune, luck and all of the external conditions that you can’t control will come into play.
“It’s going to be a tough game, they play a certain way and they are very good at it.”
Stevenage are expected to have captain Ronnie Henry back in contention for a starting place, while Andrew Fox, who went off injured on Saturday, could also feature.
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