Stevenage boss Darren Sarll said he ‘would’ve thrown seventeen years of coaching experience down the pan’ had his side not beaten Swindon at the Lamex in the FA Cup second round.
His side went 2-0 up inside thirty minutes, but two set-pieces saw Swindon draw level, forcing Boro to retake the initiative for a 5-2 win.
Sarll said: ‘I think we provided entertainment [against Swindon] – that’s the best way to describe it. I said to the players at half time, “look, let’s be a little bit more solid – the only way teams can beat us is from set-plays, so don’t foul. Get close enough, but don’t foul”.
Former Premier League star Matty Taylor drew Swindon level with a goal direct from a corner, and Sarll admitted there was little his players could do about it. ‘[Conceding set-plays] was obviously a problem in the first-half. But Matt Taylor’s left foot has [scored goals like that] for fifteen, twenty years’.
Overall, though, Sarll was pleased with Boro’s performance. ‘Take away the two goals we’ve conceded and we’ve played some good stuff going forward. We wanted to keep our attacking play, but [thought] ‘let’s not give any silly crosses or corners or free-kicks away – let’s be nice and resolute, and we’ll get there’’.
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