Stevenage Boss Steve Evans has said the relief he felt following his team’s win over Wycombe Wanderers is similar to that of Jurgen Klopp after a win at Anfield.
Boro battled to a hard fought 1-0 victory over the 10 men of Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday with captain Carl Piergianni scoring the winner. Stevenage fans are no stranger to a goal from their skipper but an uncharacteristically cool finish into the bottom corner from just inside the area was certainly a surprise.
Wycombe were clawing their way back into the game until goalkeeper Maksymilian Stryjek was shown a red card as he took out Jordan Roberts when though on goal just after half time.
It was still a tight game to the final whistle, but Steve Evans’ side had enough to return to winning ways following a run of four without a win. A result that leaves them just one point outside the play-offs with two games in hand on Oxford United.
The 61-year-old Scotsman was initially pleased with his sides solidity to see out a result; [Quotes via The Comet]:
“Sometimes, in any campaign where you’re successful, there will be times when you have to grind it out,
“We showed another side of our game today. People talk about us saying we’re big and strong and physical. We’ve been that in recent weeks, but we’ve been caught with the Black Cat syndrome. But in fairness to the players, they have jumped all over that bad luck and got us over the line.”
Evans spoke on the relief he felt following a win and the difference in feelings younger managers get after three points, drawing comparisons to the games very elite coaches:
“We’ve got young managers in the game now and they have what I had 25, 30 years ago. When you win a game, you phone the missus and you get out for a meal or you have a glass of wine at home and the family is round and everybody is happy.
“But I’m listening to the guys that have been the journey, the senior managers, the Pep’s and the Jurgen Klopp’s. He’s having a break because the pressure is intense, and it becomes relief when you win. There isn’t the joy like when he first went to Anfield.”
Writer’s View:
Steve Evans has Stevenage on the brink of something special and responding to their poor form with a home win and a clean sheet is crucial to their play-off hopes. Captain Carl Piergianni epitomises the character of a Steve Evans team so it was fitting that he be the one to drag them out this tight spot.
A big week is to come for Boro as struggling Cambridge United visit The Lamex on Tuesday before a trip to the LNER Stadium to face a Lincoln side unbeaten in seven. Six points from those games could have them in a really encouraging position to begin March and their Championship dream will become more and more of a realistic one.
