Missed chances have been too obvious to Stevenage and manager Alex Revell in their opening games of the season - but he is not about to beat players over the head about it.

Boro go to Burton Albion tomorrow (Saturday) for game number three of the League One season having beaten Shrewsbury Town 1-0 at home and then lost 2-1 away to Huddersfield Town last week.

Both games had glorious opportunities not taken and that theme continued in their 1-0 Bristol Street Motors Trophy win over Crystal Palace in midweek.

Revell though believes psychology and a calming arm round the shoulder is needed more than the birch.

The Boro boss said: "The mental side of putting the ball in the back of the net is huge but these players don't become bad finishers overnight.

"We've seen certain players produce moments of magic already, so there’s definitely psychology needed for sure. 

"The hardest thing when you've missed is to go again and get in the same place and keep making sure that you don't shy away from it. 

"Unfortunately, when they constantly fall to certain people, you have to make sure that they keep doing it. 

"The chances are falling to them for a reason, for the fact that they're getting there and that they're doing the right things.  

"And then at that moment, it’s about decisions, it's about calmness and it’s about being clinical. 

"That’s technique but there’s also psychology and it's our job to make sure that they keep getting it. 

"We’ve been through it with them and you can't really bang the stick anymore at people. It’s about understanding, learning and making sure that they keep doing it and have the confidence to keep doing it. 

"The chances we’ve missed are out there for everyone to see but it's about how we improve." 

The trek to Burton puts them up against a free-scoring side, but also one that has conceded it's fair share of goals.

Their two league games have ended in a 3-2 loss and a 3-3 draw, while a 4-0 loss in the Carabao Cup was matched by a 3-1 success in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.

And with games across the division often being won by a single goal, Revell knows his side face a tough examination in both boxes.

He said: "They've scored lots of goals and they've got a player in Billy Bodin that we've all admired for a long time.

"And they’ve signed real talent and now it’s about fitting them together. 

"But for us, we should have won by more in the first game of the season for sure.  

"And then at Huddersfield, we should have been back in the game earlier and gone on and scored more goals. 

"We know that's [an end of the pitch] that we can definitely keep producing and my demand now is on taking those opportunities. 

"And then defensively we've got to be really solid and really tuned in and organised. 

"We know that if we go up there and we perform to our best with a real organisation and a real spirit, then hopefully we’ll put on a proper performance and get the right result." 

READ MORE: Eli King on his reasons for joining Stevenage on loan from Cardiff

READ MORE: Alex Revell on Eli King and the way he will fit in with the squad

They will have a new face in the squad too, Eli King having joined on loan from Cardiff City on Thursday.

However, the boss was dialling back the expectancy as to his involvement.

He said: "He's trained on his first day and he hasn't felt that intensity for a long time. 

"Whether he’s ready to play [against Burton], we'll probably have to wait and see, probably not. 

"He's got to get used to us but he’s fitted in really well and shown his quality this morning. 

"After 10 minutes he said his legs felt like jelly because of the way we train and he's just not used to it. 

"But he’ll be ready for us and we’re really looking forward to him being here."