If we only win one game this season, then please, please, please make it today. After a summer in which Barnet stole our manager, our assistant, our coach and five of our first-team players, it would be so satisfying to inflict some footballing retribution upon the Bees, who also happen to be our local rivals to add fuel to the fire. So as this eagerly-awaited clash, highly anticipated ever since the fixtures released, finally dawns upon us there won't be a more pleasing way to get a first victory of the season.
This means a lot to the club and the supporters have made it obvious to the players how important this clash is because to lose to a team of essentially our own players, managed by the staff who were with us last season including Mr Dagenham John Still, would really hurt. Even seeing Craig Robson and Mark Cousins, two adored fans' favourites at Victoria Road, line up in Barnet colours will hit hard but hopefully only act as extra motivation. Hopefully a large contingent of travelling supporters make the relatively short trip to North London and offer an unrelenting backing to the team, who really do deserve it despite our league position, which doesn't truly reflect both our capabilities and our performances. However those that do travel will be split into three groups: those who will boo John Still, those who will stay quiet and those who will applaud him. I can see the arguments for all responses but personally I feel that while the most successful manager in our history deserves a degree of respect, it shouldn't make him immune from criticism. The manner in which he made the seamless transition from Dagenham to Barnet was disappointing and did feel slightly underhand given that Stilly had earlier said he didn't have anything lined up, only to be at Barnet under a day later (though this did significantly reduce the wage bill it's worth adding). However, we need to forget about all that and focus 100% on the task at hand which is to earn three points and move out of the relegation zone. The atmosphere will be feisty but we need to treat it as if it's any other game and focus on ourselves. After losing three away games on the spin, Dagenham sit bottom of the league with their only point coming at home to fellow strugglers Maidenhead United, who were also reduced to ten men. On Saturday we were disappointingly defeated by Hartlepool United despite an assured home display. However, we completely threw it away after the break but the luxury of the Bank Holiday schedule is that you have an instant chance to make amends. Rivalry and animosity aside, Barnet will be a tough test and it's a terrible time to play them as they're fresh from a morale-boosting first victory of the season at Chesterfield of all places, thanks to a 90th minute Jack Taylor stunner. However, prior to that, they'd struggled with many fans demanding that the club sack Still, which was a happy distraction from our own problems. They've been poor against sides towards the bottom with draws to Braintree and Aldershot, plus a home reverse to Eastleigh. Elsewhere, they were soundly beaten by Ebbsfleet and also comfortably defeated away at Harrogate. Though they'll be on a high, they won't have an easy ride at the Hive, where they haven't won all season. Dagenham have been good in spells this campaign and could be much higher in the table so if we absorb the enthusiasm of the supporters there's no reason why we can't pull off a victory today, especially with the pressure on the home side to win. We don't have the best of records away to the Bees, with one win from eleven attempts, but history cannot define our future. We have a side determined to win who will battle for everything today and soon enough it will pay off for us. With such a demanding schedule, though, Peter Taylor may ring the changes. Adeloye could make way for Leighton who has been anxiously waiting for a start, and wasn't even on the bench Saturday. Plus we have key players Kandi and Reynolds who have the ability to change games. It's hard for Taylor because he wants to persevere with five at the back in the hope we'll have defensive solidity and we also want to accommodate Reynolds and Kandi, but you have to sacrifice something. Barnet's team are very familiar with us. They have a great keeper at this level, Mark Cousins, but if anybody knows his weaknesses it's us and while Cousins is a good shot stopper, he notoriously doesn't take gambles off his line much so we must swing the crosses in today. They also switched to three at the back at the weekend, which may be good for our faster players like Kandi and Reynolds, who can be expansive. Robson will be important for them, but Boucaud remains out which is a boost to us. It's guaranteed to be an entertaining clash but we desperately need the points and with the backing of the supporters, hopefully we can produce a brilliant performance. The players know what it means to all of us so I urge them to continue making us proud. Can today finally be the day? Up the Dags
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If we continue to make the same mistakes then we're always going to get the same outcome. Against Hartlepool United the order of events were so predictable and pretty much epitomised our season. We were the better team and dominated the first-half, finally getting the goal we richly deserved before the break. Then, from nowhere we were a calamity in the second-half, conceded two quick-fire goals and all of a sudden were staring a fifth defeat in the face.
I acknowledge that we've had a lot of misfortune, from Lamar Reynolds' disallowed equaliser at Aldershot Town to the handball that wasn't given in our favour against Halifax, but so many of our problems are self-inflicted. It's not the time to put pressure on the players because they've done us proud with their performances, but some of the errors that people have made could cost us in the long run. Hartlepool deserve a lot of credit because they took the lifeline that we handed to them emphatically, but we handed them victory. There's not been a single goal against us that's been a great strike, they're all preventable and avoidable. Seconds before their equaliser, we had the ball in our own half with no danger in sight, only for a miscommunication between Elliott Romain and Liam Gordon to hand the visitors possession and allow them to produce a cross from which Michael Woods would eventually prod home. The second goal was equally frustrating with a routine effort being handled by Goodliffe to give them a blatant penalty. Quite why he'd dive in with his hands so raised is bizarre and that sealed the result. Overall, it was just a case of what could've been. In the first half I was so impressed by our performance and genuinely thought it would be the day that we'd earn a victory that we really did deserve. We were cutting them apart at will and didn't look in much trouble at the back, but everything can change in an instant when it comes to football. Romain was instrumental and his ball to McQueen was superb. The whole move was enough to convince me that our luck was changing. Even after the defeat, I was still immensely proud of the team. We may be in our lowest league position in eighteen years, and may have dwindling crowds, but one thing guaranteed this season is effort. The boys fight for everything and give their all for the cause, but unfortunately the problem is that they're a team of 19-year olds in a fiercely-competitive man's league. We're by far the most inexperienced team in the league but really we could be in the top half right now were it not for brief lapses in concentration. Hartlepool may not have deserved all three points but they do merit a lot of praise because they did what we couldn't and were clinical when their chances came. Even when we're vastly in control we still conceded two and saw both our post and bar struck. The worrying thing is that our run-in of games isn't that difficult and we're in for much tougher times when we encounter a run like the one we have to endure in September/October. We play Gateshead, Wrexham, Ebbsfleet, Sutton and Fylde all within five weeks and I worry how we expect to pick up points in those games, and indeed next week against Salford. The truth is, though, things will get better. We're a very young side still learning with every game but there will be a time when our luck changes and we force that first win over the line. The confidence from that will be massive. Importantly, even when we're losing, it's narrow defeats and we're not being outclassed so it's the fine margins costing us. Hopefully we can rectify those in the coming weeks. The win will come and, when it does, it'll mean so much to everybody. Regardless of what happens come 5pm today, a sense of defiance will grip Victoria Road as these two ex-League clubs clash. They may be separated by over 250 miles but were both rocked by financial issues which threatened the very existence of both teams. Alas, both rallied, fought and battled painstakingly to save themselves; now, having overcame possibly the most difficult period of their respective histories, continue to heal their wounds.
However, their won't be any mutual respect on that sun-kissed Chigwell Construction Stadium surface today. After a week's break from league action, the Daggers have regrouped and are desperate for that first victory, which would significantly ease the pressure. In their five games so far they've tasted defeat four times with just a point to show for their sizeable efforts. They have provided Boreham Wood and Aldershot Town with their only victories so far, also suffering defeats to Maidstone and Halifax while only managing a draw, their only point so far, against Maidenhead United, who are the only side keeping Dagenham off bottom. It's not all doom and gloom, though. In every game the Daggers have shown glimpses of talent yet are succumbing to only the finest of margins. Last week, up in Yorkshire, we were the better side but one moment of defensive indecision cost us and that's been the story of the season. We dominated against Maidstone but got nothing, were conned out of a point by incompetent officials against Aldershot and had chances against Maidenhead. A combination of bad luck and poor finishing is costing us, but that must change. To rectify that, we've brought in three new players since the start of the campaign. Alexander McQueen and Tomi Adeloye joined days before our last home game and since then have each got off the mark, while also establishing themselves as key first-team players. More recently, we've brought in Noel Leighton who got his first full appearance in Tuesday's friendly match away at Hornchurch. He scored, and looked sharp, but will probably only be on the bench today. Also playing during that match on Tuesday was a trialist, Jack Munns, who may well be the next through the door. The Dagenham-born midfielder is very familiar with Hartlepool supporters having represented them for a while, and looked like a nippy midfielder who was good on the ball. It shows that Taylor is constantly trying to strengthen his squad but at the minute he's happy with the amount of players on our books. Today will be a massive opportunity for us to get our first three points of the season and build momentum ahead of Monday's eagerly-anticipated trip to Barnet, where we'll be reunited with some old friends. However, mindful of the strain put on the young players by playing twice in three days, Taylor could make some alterations either today or Monday. We haven't played for a week though and he's likely to stick with the same side that only narrowly went down to high-flying Halifax, because judging by that performance the players are really starting to gel more. Hartlepool United are going to be a tough team to play; they're a side with a new manager since we last met and almost fresh side. Good players have come in and out but their signing of Liam Noble was arguably the best in the entire National League. The talented and experienced midfielder knows how to infiltrate the play and thread good passes in behind the defence. He shone while with Forest Green and is definitely the man to watch out for today. Other than that, they have prolific forward Niko Muir amongst their ranks after taking a gamble on the 40-goal Hendon forward, and so far it's paid off with him netting twice in five games. They also possess a brilliant goalkeeper in Scott Loach who was single-handedly responsible for Dagenham somehow losing 1-0 in the North-East last September. They have a number of good players, but also won't be relishing the challenge of facing pacy Reynolds and Kandi. Hartlepool's only win of the campaign came against Maidenhead last weekend but they were ran close by the basement side, offering Dagenham hope that they can edge it against the Pools today. A 95th-minute leveller also condemned them to just a draw at Braintree Town. Those two teams certainly aren't better than us so if they can push the Pools far then so can we. Other than that, they've drawn against Maidstone and Harrogate, while losing to a last-minute Corey Whitely goal for Ebbsfleet. This is Dagenham's opportunity to gain a reward for their efforts recently. The young players have done themselves massively proud with a number of courageous displays and it's about time we got the points to match. there's no reason why we can't be out of the relegation zone later today. COYD There have been few places more miserable to visit in recent years than Halifax, with our visits to the MBI Shay Stadium being marred with instances of severe misfortune, from our 2016 FA Cup exit to last year's infuriating last-gasp postponement. As the Daggers return for an away game which seems synonymous with anger and frustration, Peter Taylor will not only be looking to end our bad luck in West Yorkshire, but indeed his own this season.
An incident during Tuesday's trip to Aldershot Town epitomised Dagenham's season so far with such perfection and accuracy. Trailing 2-1 deep into injury time having reignited hope through Kandi's emphatic volley, the Daggers broke forward for what was their last chance, and as an onrushing Lamar Reynolds clipped the ball past the advancing Mannion in the hosts' goal, most in the ground thought he'd salvaged a dramatic point. That was until the linesman ruled the seemingly legitimate goal out. Through a combination of refereeing mistakes and sloppy errors, Dagenham were consigned to 23rd place following on from three similarly irksome results. Even before kick-off at the EBB Stadium in midweek, they should've been sitting on seven points which would've lifted them to the lofty heights of the play-off positions. However, such are the tight margins in football and especially at this level, that they instead only had a solitary point to show for their efforts and were already embroiled in a challenge. The opening game of the season saw a narrow reverse to Boreham Wood, where Daggers paid the price from switching off from a corner which wasn't properly cleared, but in truth failed to offer enough themselves. They made up for this with a dominant and fluid display at home to Maidstone yet somehow this also culminated in a loss after two moments of indecision. The first point duly arrived at home to Maidenhead but once again was overshadowed by the disappointment of it not being all three. However, despite a very unspectacular start, I think I echo the thoughts of all Daggers fans when I express my sheer pride and appreciation for this team. These are a group of kids of whom most only have a handful of competitive appearances, and so far they've performed with admirable maturity, apart from some moments of naivety which is to be expected. If we keep performing as we have, then soon we'll have the results to match. A rebuild of this magnitude was always going to take time. This weekend they will come up against another stern test, with Halifax guaranteed to provide a physical battle all over the pitch. Even without the imposing figure of Tom Denton, who left the Shaymen after many years this summer, they have players who can hurt us such as tricky winger Matty Kosylo and his attacking partner Dayle Southwell, who has two goals from four matches so far. In every area, Halifax will be dangerous and under Jamie Fullarton are certainly capable of defying expectations. They sit fourth in the table after as many games and only moneybags Salford City prevented them from carrying a 100% record into this weekend's clash. It's certainly no disgrace losing to a team of that calibre but before then they had beaten Braintree Town, Barrow AFC and Maidstone United all without conceding a single goal. The defeat to Salford could either kill their momentum or galvanise the team; hopefully for our boys it's the former. As far as the Daggers are concerned, there may well be more changes for this clash. Peter Taylor experimented with two different formations against Aldershot, switching from an initial 5-3-2 to a more attacking 4-3-3 which showed he's not afraid to make tactical changes even if it means abandoning his system. We could also see a debut for new signing Noel Leighton, with the 19 year-old forward signing following his release from Millwall. He joins fellow new recruits Tomi Adeloye and Alex McQueen in joining the Daggers and both have settled in quickly. Despite being largely ineffective in midweek, the duo were instrumental as we came from behind to draw with Maidenhead last weekend. Hopefully they replicate that performance and help us overcome a tricky outfit. Much like Adeloye last week, Taylor probably won't throw Leighton straight into the starting XI and may well persevere with the side that finished the game on Tuesday. However, our manager may also want to combat Halifax's physical presence by playing the imposing Adeloye, who will be looking to hold the ball up and bring others into the game. This is just one of the dilemmas Taylor now faces, especially with the return of Ben Goodliffe and his fellow defender Luke Pennell, who made his first start against the Shots. As for what formation we'll opt for is unclear, given that three at the back wasn't as successful. That said, it will take time to fully work and so he may stick with it. Alex Davey has been poor recently so may drop to his bench with the return of the aforementioned Goodliffe. The absence of Gavin Hoyte was widely questioned on Tuesday but personally I feel he could do a job as a right-sided centre-back, much like England with Kyle Walker. The most probable outcome, though, is that Taylor will name a side resembling something like this: Justham, Gordon, Goodliffe, Wright, McQueen, Reynolds, Robinson, Donovan, Kandi, Adeloye, Romain. Daggers are yet to win at the Shay in their 25-year history, losing five and drawing two of our seven competitive meetings. However, with all the disappointing things to occur in the last year, from the threat of losing our club to seeing our assets ruthlessly dismantled, isn't it time we put records like that to bed? Hopefully we put in a display to make the fans proud, and finally get a reward for our recent good displays. But, above all else, hopefully our pre-match drinks aren't interrupted at 2pm by a broad Yorkshireman informing us that the game is off.
One of the first decisions you had to make as Dagenham manager was selecting a captain, which obviously seemed like a difficult choice. I wanted to know why you decided to pick Nunny given that you didn’t get to see him throughout pre-season. What convinced you he was the correct option?Well, I think my mind was made up probably even before we came back for pre-season. I spoke to all the players before they trained and before they came back. I knew Nunny was 28 and had played so many games in the National League but I also knew we’d have quite a young team, so I needed somebody who was vocal - Nunny’s definitely that. He’s a good lad, a very good player, and we’re all frustrated that he’s injured. He’s definitely a good captain because I think he’ll have a go at his team-mates if they’re letting their standards drop and that will be helpful for me. It’s a shame that he’s not fit but we’re hoping that with his and the medical team’s hard work that he will be back soon. As a manager you have a diverse range of experience varying from the very top right down to non-league. How can that help you in this job? I think it just means that I know what I want but am realistic with the group of players that I’ve got. I’ve been very fortunate to manage at the top level but have also managed your Dartfords, Dovers and Enfields - teams like that. I know that there’s all different levels and I have to be patient at times because if I have the attitude of expecting from these boys what the England boys were producing, then I’m going to get frustrated so that’s not realistic. As you quite rightly say, I’ve been involved in many different levels and thankfully have enjoyed every one of them. I’m just realistic and I know what the players are doing. No matter who they are, whether they play for Dagenham & Redbridge or England, I’m going to test them and always want them to get better. You mentioned your brief stint with England where you seemed to place faith in a lot of youngsters. Now you have another youthful squad, do you think you’re the right manager to bring the best out of them?I certainly hope so. I think the players have confidence and believe that I’m going to give them a chance. If I was a young player, all I’d want is that because, if you’ve got that chance and you take it then you can kick on from there. If you don’t take it then you’ve got to look at yourself and get better so that in the next game you play well. The impression I’m getting from the players here is that they feel I do like young players and will give them that chance. WHERE DO YOU ENVISAGE US BEING BY THE END OF THIS SEASON? DOES SURVIVAL REMAIN VERY MUCH THE PRIORITY?That I’m still guessing but survival is still very much the priority and I won’t be kidding anybody on that. What I do know is that this team will be much better in 25 games’ time because we’ll be used to eachother and know what we’re doing. We’ve only been able to work on fitness on very hard ground so that hasn’t been handy, but the longer we play and more training sessions we have, we’ll get better and better. It’s important that the supporters keep faith with the boys because the last thing we need is for the team to drop their heads after some bad results,which will happen. So far the two performances have been good, but will you change anything if we have a bad run of games when things don’t go for us?I think you have to look at every situation and look at the game. Is it because of the system that you’re not playing well? Is it because of the players that you’re not playing well? You can change the system and the players could make exactly the same mistakes. You could think about changing a formation defensively but aren’t giving goals away from open play. You could defend a corner and regardless of systems you’d defend it exactly the same way. That’s the job of the coach - looking to see how you can increase the percentages of winning a match. DO YOU SEE THIS AS A LONG-TERM OPTION, OR ARE YOU PURELY HERE TO STEADY THE SHIP?I hope that I’m here long-term. I’m getting a very good feeling about the club, I’ve always liked the club but since being here am liking it even more. I get a good feeling that people know the situation and are realistic, for example the supporters when we came off the pitch against Maidstone were magnificent. I’ve had too many clubs, I don’t want any more clubs, I’ve had enough of clubs!
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January 2024
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