Every season, we see an unexpected club become the League One dark horses. To be crowned as the League One dark horses, you need to have written off before the seasons even underway. This club fall under that category.
Stevenage are going into their third successive season in League One and second under Manager Alex Revell. Boro have started their campaign with back-to-back wins firstly winning 3-2 away to Blackpool and a 1-0 win over Rotherham propelling them into fifth in the EFL League One Table.
Where most pundits predicted the Boro to be in the lower ends of the table, with some even tipping them for relegation. It looks like Stevenage could be the League One dark horses this season and get back to the likes of the 2011-12 season where the Boro made the playoffs.
What has Alex revell’s recruitment been like this summer that has helped this start, as well as how the side has set up this season to help that.
League One dark horses Stevenage and their summer window
After a mixed season last year, finishing in 14th Place. Boro did struggle to score, being the third lowest scorer in the whole division however, they did not concede that much compared to the teams around last season. This cements them as this seasons League One dark horses.
So, Stevenage responded by firstly announcing a list of players to be released, that being Eliott List, Makise Evans, David Hicks, Kyle Edwards and Jake Forster Caskey.
There was also some sales with Strikers Aaron Pressley and Louis Appere to Walsall and Cambridge respectively and goalkeeper Rylee Mitchell to Norwich.
Then the first signings came in the door with two from newly relegated Plymouth Argyle, with midfielder Jordan Houghton, and also full-back Saxon Earley, who was at the club for a loan spell at the start of the 2022-2023 season.
Then Alex Revell’s side picked up some more attacking options with Chem Campbell from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Phoenix Patterson from Fleetwood Town for 200 thousand pounds.
A double signing again was made this time from previous League One dark horses, Wycombe Wanderers, with striker Beryly Labala and full-back Jasper Pattenden.
Winger Mattheus Roberts was then signed after a successful trial period during pre-season.
How Stevenage have lined up this season?
Stevenage have started both games in League One with the same eleven and the same formation.
In a 4-2-3-1 formation, Alex Revell started with Filip Marschall in goal with Dan Butler and Luther James-Wildin at left and right back, respectively.
Whilst starting at Centre back was club captain Carl Piergianni and Charlie Goode.
The boro started with 2 deeper midfielders, with Jordan Houghton and Harvey White whilst ahead of them was Stevenage player of the year Dan Kemp in the attacking midfielder role with Chem Campbell on the left wing and Jordan Roberts on the right wing.
Whilst Northern Ireland International Jamie Reid rounded off the team up front.
How do Stevenage play
To combat last season’s lack of scoring, Stevenage’s new wingers in Chem Campbell and Phoenix Patterson, as well as existing players like Jordan Roberts, has allowed the Boro to use width, which they lacked last season.
This season has also seen Jamie Reid return to his scoring exploits of the 2023-24 campaign, where he bagged 18 goals. He’s started this season with three goals in the first two, and if he continues that record it could bring a landmark season for Stevenage.
Jamie Reid could become a cult hero in the League One dark horses story.
Who have Stevenage got next?
Stevenage continue their League One campaign at home to Northampton Town on 16th August before successive away trips to Port Vale on 19th August and Huddersfield Town on 23rd August.
Stevenage end August and start September with home fixtures against Wycombe on 30th August and Barnsley on 6th September.
