Opposition Lowdown: Alex Revell’s Playoff-Chasing Stevenage

Stevenage arrive at the Select Car Leasing Stadium this weekend with a playoff pulse that belies their mid-table finish last term. After ending 2023-24 in 14th place on the back of 15 wins, 12 draws and 19 defeats, Alex Revell’s side have bolted into eighth—one point behind Reading and holding a game in hand—to keep their League One promotion dream alive.

The turnaround has been orchestrated by Revell, 42, who was handed the reins on a permanent basis in May 2024 after a second stint as caretaker. A former striker with 20 years’ experience at Brighton, Rotherham, Cardiff and Northampton, Revell hung up his boots at Broadhall Way and immediately moved into the academy. His first crack at senior management came in 2020, but the pandemic curtailed that campaign; the following year he steered the club to 14th in League Two before a November 2021 sacking. Two months later he was back in the building, working his way up to Steve Evans’ first-team staff and ultimately taking the hot-seat again last spring. Revell favours an enterprising, front-foot style and has wasted no time reinforcing the squad.

January brought four fresh faces through the door. Defender Jack Taylor was prised from Sutton United for a five-figure fee, Brighton midfielder Joe Knight arrived for an undisclosed sum, and experienced winger Matt Phillips joined on a free, while Bristol City forward Harry Cornick bolstered the attack on loan until May.

Results have oscillated of late—three wins and three losses in the last six league outings—but the bigger picture is upward mobility. A 1-0 midweek reverse at Plymouth Argyle checked momentum, yet Stevenage’s destiny remains in their own hands. Reading edged them 1-0 in November thanks to Charlie Savage’s early strike; revenge on home soil would nudge Revell’s men even closer to the top six.

Between the posts, summer signing Filip Marschall has underlined why Aston Villa invested years in his development. The 22-year-old, calm in possession and commanding in his area, has registered 13 clean sheets in 37 appearances after keeping 16 in League Two for Crewe last season.

Club captain Carl Piergianni sets the tone in defence. The 33-year-old centre-back, strong in aerial duels at both ends of the pitch, has racked up 189 games and 19 goals since arriving on a free from Oldham in May 2022. A former non-league journeyman who tasted promotion with Salford, Piergianni was named both Stevenage Player of the Season and League Two Team of the Season in his first campaign and now wears the armband with typical commitment.

With a blend of seasoned warriors and hungry newcomers, Revell’s evolving squad travel to Berkshire intent on proving the playoff race is far from a two-horse dash. A victory over Reading would not only avenge November’s narrow loss but also propel Stevenage into the coveted top six with time running short.