Graham Westley is beginning to discover that the grass isn't always greener at Deepdale. The
papers reported this morning that GW has got off on the wrong foot with the Preston players with
text messages at 2am telling players have been dropped and giving motivational messages.
It's fair to say that it hasn't gone down too well in Lancashire.
As soon as Graham Westley had parked his Bentley into the car park at Deepdale, bookmakers
online were offering odds on who will be the next manager to step into the Broadhall Way hotseat.
It's arguably the best management position currently on offer in the Football League. Stevenage sit
6th in the League 1 table, are still in the FA Cup and have a squad full of young, hungry players
with room to improve even further.
It's a story that has dominated the club over the past 10 days or so. Rumours began flying round
that Preston were interested in Graham Westley just a couple of days before the 3rd round FA Cup
tie against Reading. At first it just seemed to be rumours. But the rumours didn't stop. Instead,
they just gathered pace and it became clear at the beginning of the week that Preston were not only
interested in Westley, but that Westley was interested in Preston.
FC Boro has returned. After deciding to call it a day back in August, the desire to get this
place up and running again has come back after the events of recent weeks. It's not totally back as
it was as I've still got a few issues to iron out with the domain name and pictures etc, but the
blog is back, just as Stevenage FC enter a new era after the departure of Graham Westley.
Darius Charles: Grabbed Boro's 1st goal in League 1
Chesterfield 1-1 Stevenage | Charles 40, Lester 97
npower league 1 | b2net stadium | 5,836
A late late goal from Jack Lester prevented Boro from taking all 3 points at the b2net Stadium.
In what was a scrappy game, Boro were well on course to their first win in League 1 when Darius
Charles headed home from a corner 5 minutes before half-time.
Charles: Scored Boro's first goal in League 1
Chesterfield 1-1 Stevenage | Charles 40, Lester 97
npower league 1 | b2net stadium | 5,836
A late late goal from Jack Lester prevented Boro from taking all 3 points at the b2net Stadium.
In what was a scrappy game, Boro were well on course to their first win in League 1 when Darius
Charles headed home from a corner 5 minutes before half-time.
Instead of going through all the 23 teams we are to face this season, I thought I'd do something
slightly different to preview the new season. I've asked 6 Boro supporters for their views on the
season ahead as the club prepares for its first campaign in npower League 1. If you want a preview
of League 1, then I recommend reading The Seventy Two Unfortunates' Football League preview.
I'm not going to do a preview. There's no point. Everyone know's what the situation is, who's
fit, who's in form etc. According to Accrington's manager, the tie's already over, so what's the
point in previewing it.
Here's Coleman's quote to the local Lancashire paper which says it all really.
That's the message that Graham Westley is sending out ahead of Boro's crucial clash with Bury
tomorrow afternoon. Westley is hoping that the "siege" mentality will have a positive effect on the
game, with Boro possibly needing to win to stay in the play-off places. Referee decisions have cost
his team in their last 2 away games and GW has planted a little seed in the referee's mind ahead
of the game.
The appeals for both Luke Foster and John Mousinho's red cards received in last Saturday's
defeat at Northampton have been thrown out by the Football Association. The news comes as a huge
blow for Graham Westley who must now prepare for this weekend's crucial encounter with Bury without
two of his most "in form" players.
The term must win is used too much over the course of the season, but tomorrow's game
at Sixfields is just that for both ourselves and Northampton. Three points for the Cobblers would
probably all but confirm their safety and a place in next season's League 2 with so many other
sides nervously looking over their shoulder into the non-league trap door.
Shrewsbury 1-0 Stevenage (Wroe 38)
Highlights | BBC Report
Not good. Five games it is now without a win and it's a run that looks like it has a while to
go yet before it gets better. A solitary goal from Nicky Wroe was enough to give the Shrews the
victory today. Boro didn't play well, but did create some chances late on as they pushed for a
point.
Chesterfield 1-0 Boro (Talbot 42)
Highlights | Westley Interview
Another game and another 1-0 defeat. It's starting to get predictable away from Broadhall Way.
Boro have now lost 4 of their last 5 league games by just the one goal and it was the same story
again yesterday as a solitary Drew Talbot strike was enough to give Chesterfield the 3 points and
leave Graham Westley's side in 17th place, 5 points off the relegation zone.
Below is a guest post I wrote for twofootedtackle.com earlier this week. Two Footed
Tackle is a blog devoted to the world of football, covering the Premier League right down to
non-league. You can follow them on Twitter via @twofootedtackle.
Stevenage's 3-1 victory over Newcastle United at the weekend may have shocked the nation, but
those who have followed the club over the last few years will tell you that they were not
surprised to see a Premier League side turned over at fortress Broadhall Way.
