Stevenage manager Steve Evans has admitted that his side ‘were nervous’ in the opening stages of their 1-0 victory over Wycombe Wanderers.

A well-taken Carl Piergianni goal midway through the first-half separated the two teams, as the Chairboys played most of the second period with 10 men.

This was due to goalkeeper Max Stryjek being sent-off for a late challenge on striker, Jordan Roberts, but replays showed the Polish shot-stopper tried to pull out of the tackle.

Wanderers pushed on for an equaliser, but fell to their 13th league defeat of the season.

Evans said: “As we thought, Matty [Bloomfield] changed it up a bit [with eight changes from the EFL Trophy semi-final win over Bradford on Wednesday], and when we look at their strength on their bench, it’s a top-end of League One team.

“They were better for the first 15 minutes or so as we looked nervous.

“We changed the pattern of what we had, we involved the wingers a bit more and then we took control and got a well-worked goal through the skipper.

“In the second half, we matched the tenacity and vigour they’ve got, as Wycombe’s players are hoping to get a start at the best stadium in England, which is Wembley.

“We knew that was going to happen, but we didn’t want their goalkeeper getting sent-off, as we’d rather go 2-0 which would have made it comfortable, as we were on top.

“They threw caution to the wind in the last 15 minutes or so which made it nervy, but we held on.

“We knew they’d have a better start to the game, and even though our boys looked nervous in training yesterday, I spoke to everyone and things settled down.”

Up next for Wycombe is a home match against Cheltenham Town on February 27.