The rough and tumble reputation that Stevenage are getting for themselves may be a bit over the top at times but Gary Johnson needs to figure out a way of dealing with a big physical test this weekend.
Graham Westley has led his side impressively to the top seven in the last few weeks and though it’s not a style that’s going to please everyone, it’s getting the job done. The Cobblers can identify – last season’s playoff push was built heavily on the back of Bayo Akinfenwa’s fitness and the long ball game up to the big man meant it was route one for a lot of the run-in.
So we can have no complaints if Stevenage come and do the physical job on us on Saturday and instead have to forge our way and think our way past them to try and survive. Matching them probably isn’t going to work so we’ll have to rely on the pace in the side rather than attempting to go man for man. Liam Davis’ fitness could be crucial in that case but it’s hard to tell just yet whether he’ll be available for the crunch game.
It’ll be tough to focus on trying to play a passing game with the stakes so high but with a victory at Broadhall Way earlier in the season the players will be confident of pulling off a league double that would mean we would be safe should Barnet lose at Accrington.
The fans will be crucial. With a big game feel, there’s set to be an increase in Cobblers support as the town unites to get behind their team. Attitudes are changing in that we’re all beginning to battle through now and analyse later which can only be a good thing. The time for talking is in the summer and for now, no matter how, we need to send Stevenage off with nothing!
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