Though Saturday's devastating late defeat to Eastleigh may have ended our unbeaten run, such is the recent positivity around the club that nobody was too disheartened by the result. Thankfully we have a chance to instantly make amends as we're on the road again, this time to high-flying Solihull Moors under the floodlights of the Automated Technology Stadium.
The general consensus on Saturday was that we played some decent football, especially in the first-half, so hopefully we approach this encounter with vigour and confidence. Peter Taylor's side have seemed to grow in maturity each week and but for a spate of missed opportunities, which ultimately cost us, we would've emerged from Hampshire with all three points. While the defeat outlined that we're still vulnerable, it also showed that we've never been out of a game and can always compete. Tonight's game will certainly be different as we face an organised and well-drilled unit who, by all accounts, use their physical attributes well. However, it won't be the first time that we entertain a commanding and imposing side given that we've faced Chesterfield and Eastleigh recently, both of whom exerted their aerial dominance. It will be another learning curve for the players but after those aforementioned encounters we'll be well-equipped to match them all the way. Strugglers turned contenders, Solihull Moors are an inspiration to those sides at the bottom with the way they've turned their fortunes around and shown no fear against the so-called better teams. It's a testament to their football that they sit in a play-off place, especially considering that they lost influential manager Mark Yates to Macclesfield in the summer. It may be early days in the campaign still but even to be sitting that high at the end of September deserves respect, but not the kind of respect we showed Salford a few weeks ago. A 5-0 demolition against Bromley just three days ago highlights the potent way Solihull play their football. They're a very solid side on a good run of form and are very underrated when compared to some of the sides around them. After suffering two straight losses recently, they've managed to turn it around with back-to-back wins against Dover and Bromley respectively. One of their main dangermen is Danny Wright, a clinical forward who will be the focal point of his team's attacking exploits. Similarly to how tonight's opposition recovered from their recent defeats, the Daggers will be hoping to put Saturday's result behind them. With every game the pressure will mount on us to get on the right track and hopefully we get that underway sooner rather than later, and don't fall into the kind of unlucky, negative run that plagued our start to the season. Although Solihull are talented, Romain and Kandi are capable of causing anybody problems. Over the last few months, meetings between Dagenham and Solihull have certainly been enthralling, pulsating, end-to-end encounters. With 23 goals in our 4 meetings, you can guarantee a free-flowing encounter tonight. Generally the Daggers have had the upper-hand over Solihull, picking up 4 points at Damson Park. Last season, Jake Howells struck in the 94th minute but Solihull wouldn't be denied in the next meeting, triumphing 3-1 in East London. As for what could transpire in Birmingham tonight would be anybody's guess. Dagenham can be composed and calm, yet seem to lack a cutting edge at times. The biggest lesson we'll have learned recently is that we have to take our chances, so hopefully the team have been putting extra work in on that, and it pays off tonight. I believe in these boys who continue to so the team proud. Whatever happens tonight, let's hope for a committed and nergetic performance. When that happens, everything else should fall into place.
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January 2024
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