Westley – We Had To Work For That Point

Manager Graham Westley has admitted we were made to work very hard for the point in the game against Preston last night and he credited the character of the team to keep fighting until the very end of the game as we looked to find the equaliser that thankfully came.

Speaking to the press as Stevenage did fight back from a goal down, Westley wasn’t overly disappointed that we didn’t take an even later chance to have secured the win, he was just happy that we came out with something from the game because he thought it was thoroughly deserved.

‘The top six are where they are for a reason. I think we played the first half a little in awe, I feared for youngsters because they need the experience of playing better players to develop the confidence and it took up half a game to get going.’

Westley says first half Preston were certainly worthy of their lead because we didn’t get going, we didn’t show any composure and we didn’t work the ball properly, ‘it was very back to front and it was haphazard.’

Thankfully though something clicked and changed at the half time break and the gaffer admits we were a different proposition and more like the team he expects us to be.

‘We played a different game, a lot more composure, our athleticism came through as the game wore on. We played some really good football and although it looked like we wouldn’t get anything, I thought we deserved something.’

Westley says that once the equaliser went in it really was all us and we were the side who looked like taking all three points which was a world away from where we were in the first period, and even though their goal led a charmed life, we made them defend thoroughly, and not only was it the secret to getting the goal, it could’ve been more and for the gaffer it was like the ‘good old days’ for him with spirit and determination and application and sheer bloody mindedness coming through.

A very valuable point in reality, so onwards and upwards again now.