But despite being second best for long spells at Broadhall Way, Wrexham ground out a 2-1 victory and are now seventh in the Blue Square Premier table, three points away from the play-offs but with games in hand.

And having seen Wrexham lose at Kidderminster the previous weekend after playing what he described as the best football under his tenure, Saunders was delighted to see the Reds dig in to record victory against Stevenage.

"We fought really hard today and we got the win," said Saunders. "We did not play anywhere near like we did last week.

"I thought they fought well too. Credit to them, we did not get many balls into the front men and hardly created a chance first half.

"I had a bit of a pop half-time, we changed things around a little bit, came out and we just had to stay in the game. We did not commit suicide, nothing silly happened, and everybody marked from corners and set-pieces.

"We stayed in the game and scored two goals again from the two strikers who were average first half.

"Our goalkeeper made two great saves second half but all I ask of them is effort, determination and passion, and we did that again.

"Although we did not play well, we played great last week and got nothing."

Saunders acknowledged that his midfield had been bullied in the first half and his response was to move striker Marc Williams back to bolster that area.

"There is always a danger when you have got so many footballers in the team," said Saunders.

"We have got footballers in the team and we are trying to play good football.

"If they could bully people and play football they would be playing for Real Madrid – they would not be playing here.

"All players have faults, it is my job to try and blend them all together, and get the balance right.

"I put Marc into the middle of midfield (in the second half). I wasn't happy after five minutes to be honest.

"I put Marc in there to try and put an extra body in there, and we did look a lot more solid after Marc went in there."

Leading scorer Jefferson Louis gave Wrexham the lead by scoring his 11th goal of the season in the 56th minute.

Stevenage soon levelled but Wrexham wrapped up the points when Marc Williams took his tally to eight goals with just nine minutes remaining.

And Saunders praised Williams for his never-say-die attitude.

"I thought Marc epitomised everything I want at the club," said Saunders. "His determination– forget his football, his passing and the goal he scored – he wanted to win.

"That's what was standing out and that rubs off on everybody, it spreads, just like losing spreads.

"When you have got people out there who want to win, the man next to you sees how hard Marc is trying and they are all having a go. It was a hard fought win but I think the players showed a lot of determination."

Stevenage appealed for a foul it the build-up to Williams' winner, when Louis got the better of his marker, but Saunders said finding the net, via a deflection, was no more than Williams deserved.

"Jefferson got through, showed a bit of strength with the centre-back and turned in-field," said Saunders.

"He could have given a foul but the referee has not, and Jeff passed it inside I think a little bit too hard to Marc.

"I thought he could have set him up but Marc's touch was good and he has finished it really well. He deserved it."

Saunders handed debuts to on-loan pair Jon Brown (winger) and Sam Williamson (left-back) who have come in from Cardiff City and Manchester City respectively.

A third new signing, Liverpool midfielder Ryan Flynn was nursing a knock, and Saunders – who takes his side to Northwich Victoria on Wednesday – stressed that it takes time for players to fit in: "We have got another away game on Wednesday and we have got to keep going forward," he added.

"We had two new players playing today, Ryan Flynn has signed but he was not involved as he has got a slight knock.

"It is hard to blend them in during a couple of days, to start knowing where each other is going to run and what each other is going to do on the ball."