Boro believe after powering past Pompey

Darren Sarll hailed the belief in his side after Stevenage celebrated victory over Pompey.
STEVENAGE, UK, 18TH MARCH, 2017
Jobi McAnuff celebrates scoring his first goal of the match during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Stevenage and Portsmouth at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, England on 18 March 2017. Photo by Joe Pepler/Digital South. PPP-170318-161417006STEVENAGE, UK, 18TH MARCH, 2017
Jobi McAnuff celebrates scoring his first goal of the match during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Stevenage and Portsmouth at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, England on 18 March 2017. Photo by Joe Pepler/Digital South. PPP-170318-161417006
STEVENAGE, UK, 18TH MARCH, 2017 Jobi McAnuff celebrates scoring his first goal of the match during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Stevenage and Portsmouth at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, England on 18 March 2017. Photo by Joe Pepler/Digital South. PPP-170318-161417006

Boro were worthy winners at the Lamex Stadium as they boosted their promotion hopes with a 3-0 win.

The victory – courtesy of first-half goals from Jack King and Matt Godden, along with Jobi McAnuff’s strike 41 seconds after the break – saw them move up to fourth in the League Two table.

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It also reduced the Blues’ advantage over them to four points, although Paul Cook’s side stay third.

Pompey, who were going in search of a fourth successive win and four in a row on the road, became the latest side to come away from the Lamex with nothing to show for their efforts.

And with Boro now boasting seven wins from seven on home soil this year, Sarll believes he’s creating something special at the club.

‘We seem to have a lovely harmony about us now where everyone understands what is expected of them,’ he said.

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‘They (the players) believe in everything we want them to do, and the fact they believe makes it very easy to manage them.

‘If they didn’t believe, it becomes a different story.

‘But when you have got the team all on the same page, in sync with each other and with the quality and athleticism we have got, they can be very special on their day.’

Although a below-par Pompey aided Stevenage’s victory, Sarll added his team showed tremendous character after a ‘tough’ week.

A derby win at Luton the weekend before was followed by defeat at Blackpool in midweek.

But Sarll was delighted with his side’s attitude.

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‘It was a big game and it has been a tough week, a tough seven days,’ he added.

‘The drain emotionally and physically after Luton and then the travel and performance at Blackpool.

‘Like I keep reminding everyone, the one thing this team always does is respond and wow, they responded unbelievably.’

– MARK McMAHON