Darren Sarll believes the level of quality in League Two is improving and says that the league won’t settle down until well into the New Year.

Boro were at one point in the top half of the table during last weekend’s match with Yeovil Town only to concede a 95th minute equaliser, a goal which saw them tumble down to 20th.

In a compact league four points separate Sarll’s men from basement club Newport County, but it is also the same number of points up to Crewe Alexandra in sixth place.

Sarll believes the league won’t settle until well into the New Year, saying: “I don’t think it’ll settle down until the end of January.

“People have said Christmas, but I just think there will be peaks and troughs for everyone.

“I think League Two has got better from my experience of the 17 games last season and the 16 we’ve had now. There’s been massive improvements in strategy, preparation, delivery and execution and performance.

“I think the playing quality has got better. The bigger clubs with bigger resources are now equipped with players who could still hold their own at the top of League One.

“I think it’s a really good standard of league. It’s a stronger league than League One in terms of the competitiveness of it. It makes it really interesting on Saturdays at five when you’re trying to get your head around the results and who’s done what.

“We just believe that we have got the opportunity to get among the top end of the table and have a great season.”

Boro travel to 11th place Accrington Stanley tomorrow (Saturday) knowing a victory will move them above John Coleman’s men, and Sarll believes having players such as Jobi McAnuff return from injury in recent weeks will make his first XI realise that they have to perform to remain in the team.

“I’ve had players queuing up like Jobi, Steven [Schumacher], Michael [Tonge], Dean Wells of course and Chris Day still thinks he should be playing each week.

“It’s a nice one to have. Those players understand the boys are playing well and they don’t have a god-given right to a shirt at the moment.

“They are sitting there patiently but most importantly quietly waiting for the chance.

“The thing is if you slip up when you’re in the starting XI at the moment and you see Jobi there it’s a real motivation for you to stay on your game.”