Not many teams are awarded another chance when they finish 24th in the division, but a fortunate Stevenage side are taking full advantage of the second opportunity that they have been presented with in League Two.
The Hertfordshire club had only won three games when the League Two season was curtailed last season, and despite finishing the campaign bottom of the league, Macclesfield Town’s 17-point deduction meant that the Boro would stay in the division.
Another fortuitous aspect of their survival was the fact that only one team went down. Bury’s expulsion from the football league was regarded as a League Two relegation, allowing Stevenage an opportunity to rectify an all round poor season.
A Fortunate Stevenage Side Are Taking Advantage of a Second Bite of the Cherry
Start of the Campaign Brought on Fresh Relegation Concerns
Stevenage took four points from their first two league games of the season, but a run of 11 games without a win meant that fourth-tier relegation was a growing possibility once again.
In late November, the club started somewhat of a revival, losing just a single game in eight. When the run came to an end in early January, Boro found themselves outside the relegation places, but also just a point above Southend United in 24th place.
Fortunate Stevenage Are Taking Full Advantage of Second Chance With Eight-Game Unbeaten Run
Since a scrappy 1-0 defeat against Bolton Wanderers in mid-February, Stevenage have started an eight-game unbeaten run; form that has seemingly eliminated any relegation concerns, with Alex Revell thriving in his first full season of management.
A revitalised Boro now find themselves as many points from the play-offs as they are from safety. The club may be rather fortunate to still be a League Two club, but they have proved that they are completely competent enough to compete at this level of football.
Within this recent run of form, Boro have not conceded in six successive games. In fact, they have only let in two goals in their last ten games, as they continue to demonstrate that last season is a distant memory.
Striking the Perfect Balance of Youthful Talent and Experienced Minds
A well-balanced squad that consists of young emerging stars, with experienced heads is what every manager tries to achieve. And, this is something that Revell has perfectly crafted.
Boro possess one of the youngest squads in the division, with the likes of Elliott List, Jamie Cumming, Luther Wildinand Arthur Read, all becoming integral parts of Boro’s recent success.
In and amongst that youthful talent are some experienced heads. Club captain Scott Cuthbert, Ben Coker, Tom Pett, and Chris Lines, are just some of the names who have racked up hundreds of appearances in the football league respectively.
An Potentially Important Chapter in the Club’s History
Perhaps not as exciting as facing Harry Maguire‘s Sheffield United in the 2011/12 League One play-offs, but surviving the League Two drop last season could prove vital.
From a financial perspective, being part of the EFL automatically boosts a club’s finances. Also, the non-league vacuum has sucked in a number of established football league clubs who have been unable to return since.
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