It hadn't become a thing just yet - and now it won't be thanks to the 1-0 success at Mansfield Town.

Stevenage's first League One away win of the season saw two sides of their character - a bit a flash and a steely determination to see the job out.

As ever though, inside every good team performance there is some good and better individual efforts.

This is how I saw the game at Field Mill.

Player ratings

Mansfield Town (0) 0 Stevenage (1) 1

Murphy Cooper - 8

Two good saves in the second half, positioning bang on to prevent a lot of the Mansfield balls across the face of goal turning into something more dangerous, and a clean sheet too. That all makes for a really good day at the office. 

Luther Wildin - 7

Had a couple of iffy moments early on, caught in possession by Gregory for one, but overall he showed that he is more than capable of playing the middle of the defence. Reads the game so well.

Carl Piergianni - 8

He too had one moment that gave me palpitations but other than that, the skipper was his usual wonderful self. He headed almost everything away, blocked a good chunk and kept a perfect defensive away showing together. And he's got perfect hair too. Comet Sport man of the match. 

Jordan Roberts - 7

Started really well, first half saw him pressing like he was on a mission. Second half, was more of a defensive slog but he played his part, even if it didn't allow him to shine.

Kane Smith - 7

Solid. Couple of good tackles, worked hard and his positioning was good. Having someone like him to rely on allows Luther to move inside without weakening the back four in the slightest.

Lewis Freestone - 7

Ended the game playing more as a centre-half because that's his position and when your backs are against the wall, you revert to type. However, he was good there too - blocking, tackling, heading. Really is growing into a very good signing.

Jamie Reid - 7

The boss feels he is now up to speed after his missed pre-season and this was a great example that he might be right. That one run down the left in the first half was almost vintage BGR. Cut in then and cut in on at least one other occasion. A goal is coming for him but his contribution helped the momentum swing firmly in Boro's favour.

Dan Phillips - 8

He is such a good tackler, such a good presser and just a proper little terrier of a player. Hassled Mansfield into errors, one leading to a Young shot, and broke up play constantly. There was even plenty of times when Boro were on the ball that he looked to play forward, more than in recent games. That'll please the boss.

Louis Thompson - 8

Copy and paste  from above to be frank. The midfield duo are in such good form at the minute and dovetail almost perfectly together. One injury scare in the second half but survived that and should be OK for Tuesday.

Eli King - 7

This was a better performance, he too was looking forward more with his passing, maybe not enough, but more. Should have scored like but defended well in the second half.

Jake Young - 7

His goal was spot on but he looked more on the front foot here. Reacted way quicker than the Mansfield defence at times, something that wouldn't have happened a few weeks ago. And there is more to come too as he is still not fully up to the required level of Boro fitness, which is nice.

Subs - List, Pressley, White, Kemp, Butler.

A special word for Aaron Pressley who has made Wolverine levels of recovery from injury. And he had an impressive little cameo, winning headers, holding the ball up and even nearly scoring with a late shot from a narrow angle. Give him a couple of weeks but he'll offer something different.

Mansfield stand-out players

Gregory had moments, Baccus had moments when he came on too, but they were stifled by Stevenage's performance. Not the best afternoon, as you could take from the mumbles and grumbles from the home fans.

Overall

They were always going to win away at some point but this was an almost perfect away day. Yes, there were a few nervy moments late on, and yes, they sat too deep for my liking, but this was a typical Stevenage away performance - batter the opposition and get in front before circling the wagons and frustrating the hosts.

Could have given the man of match to about three or four players, it was that kind of day.

Into the top 10 too and with a big November coming up.