Stevenage FC writer Owen Rodbard returns for his first Boro column of the 2021-22 season.

Read on for his essential take on the club after his trip to Bradford which ended Boro's perfect start to the campaign.

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Over the last four matches a lot has happened for Alex Revell's men.

I'm writing this immediately after getting home from a dismal 4-1 loss to Bradford.

The game has left a sour taste in my mouth after an excellent start to the season.

Our opening day 1-0 victory over Barrow saw fans full of optimism (as we usually are after a rare opening day win) and rightly so after the form we showed towards the end of last season.

The result against Barrow really sent a benchmark on what standards are expected this season.

By no means was it a perfect performance, but it was the first time we've won on opening day for seven years, so a success nonetheless.

The game against Luton proved a big test, despite playing a team with 10 changes.

Joseph Anang proved his worth with two penalty saves (a bit of a reoccurring theme after Bradford), while Jake Reeves and Taylor looked gritty and List looked back to his best.

The way we played in that game was reminiscent of the good times at Boro, free flowing and fast football which was so easy on the eye, players winning every second ball, the East Terrace as loud as the old days.

It feels like a new dawn for us, something which has been promised every season, but this year it genuinely feels different.

The style of play, the hungry, young players that have been brought in, the management team and the optimism that surrounds the club at the moment is buzzing.

Saturday away at Bristol Rovers saw the other side of the team, the nitty gritty part of the game which grinds out the points in the dying embers.

An 88th minute strike from Chris Lines topped off by a Luke Norris finish left us second in the table, with no goals conceded in the league.

A brilliant spectacle for "little old Stevenage".

This all came crashing back to reality after the emphatic 4-1 defeat at Valley Parade on Tuesday night.

The team looked flat, tired and out of ideas.

Pumping the ball long to an outmuscled Norris and playing the balls down the line aimlessly cost us, wave after wave of attack continued before defensive lapses cost us for the first game in a very long time.

Understandably the players were tired after playing three games in 10 days, but to put in a performance like that is unacceptable and I'm sure won't happen again.

You knew it was a bad night, when, after the final whistle, Revs was too furious to come and clap the fans. I don't blame him after the way we played.

One blip will not decide our fate this early on, but I'm hoping games like that don't become a regular occurrence, otherwise that 'dark horse' tag that has been so widely applied to Boro might slowly start to disappear.