Stevenage head coach Alex Revell has called on his players to feed off a growing sense of belief at the club as they travel to Leyton Orient in League One on Saturday, targeting a place in the top half of the table heading into the international break.

From slow start to ninth place

Boro made a difficult start to the season, collecting just a single point from their opening three league matches, a run that included home defeats to Oxford United and Reading. What has followed, however, has transformed the mood around Broadhall Way considerably.

Back-to-back draws steadied the ship, but it was a thumping 5-1 win at Barnsley and a 2-1 home victory over Luton Town last Thursday that have really energised the squad and the support. Those results have lifted Stevenage to ninth after six matches, and Revell told BBC Three Counties Radio that the atmosphere around the group has shifted noticeably.

"There's no better feeling than when everybody gets to celebrate like that after a game," Revell said. "We know how much it means to everybody, and how hard everybody works here: staff, players, everyone."

Keeping it simple, adding the details

The Stevenage manager was keen to emphasise that the improvement has come through clarity rather than complication. His message to the squad, he explained, is one of focus on strengths first.

"This is not a group of players where you overload them," he said. "You just need to keep it simple. Get them to do what they are good at, and that's what we feel we're progressing with. If we do that, and add a little bit more of pace and more of those one-on-one moments, we're in a real good place. We're really pleased with where we are."

Orient in mind, and memories of last season

The trip to Brisbane Road carries some pleasant memories for Revell. Stevenage won on the same fixture last season, a result that briefly took them to the top of the third-tier table during what proved to be a strong autumn. The club went on to reach the play-offs, before falling at the semi-final stage to Stockport County.

Revell is clear-eyed about what Saturday's opponents will offer, despite Leyton Orient sitting mid-table after a testing opening to their own campaign. He has spoken highly of Orient's head coach, underlining that the O's should not be underestimated.

"Leyton Orient are having a tricky old time, sat there in the middle of the pack," Revell said. "Richie's (Wellens) teams are always well coached and have the ability to score goals."

Orient fans will recall that their side avoided relegation on the final day last season, so there is motivation on both sides to use this fixture as a springboard for a better second half of the campaign.

The prize: entering the break in the top pack

For Revell, the broader ambition is straightforward. With the international break arriving after this weekend's fixtures, Stevenage have an opportunity to cement a position among the early pacesetters and head into the pause with genuine momentum behind them.

"We want to win this game to go into the international break in that top pack," he said. "We want to continue this momentum, building belief in what we're doing."

Whether Boro can extend their unbeaten run to five matches in hostile surroundings at Brisbane Road remains to be seen, but the signs from within the camp suggest a squad that has rediscovered its confidence at precisely the right moment.

Frequently asked

When do Stevenage play Leyton Orient in League One?
Stevenage travel to Leyton Orient on Saturday, 19 September 2026, in a League One fixture ahead of the international break.
What is Stevenage's current form in League One?
Stevenage are unbeaten in four matches heading into the Orient fixture, a run that includes a 5-1 win at Barnsley and a 2-1 home victory over Luton Town. They sit ninth after six matches.
Where are Leyton Orient in the League One table?
According to Stevenage boss Alex Revell, Leyton Orient are sitting in the middle of the League One table after a difficult opening to the season.