Dagenham & Redbridge boss more than disappointed by defeat

Dagenham & Redbridge boss Ben Strevens admitted his side got punished for some terrible decisions in their 4-2 home loss to Gateshead.

Luke Hannant put the visitors in front in the first half, with Marcus Dinanga doubling the advantage six minutes after the restart.

Substitute Inih Effiong hit back, but Hannant made it 3-1 moments later and Dinanga grabbed his second before Charley Kendall’s late consolation.

And Strevens told the club website: “Disappointing is not a strong enough word to sum it up.

“Completely not what we wanted from Saturday, we wanted a response.

“We made some terrible decisions at times and got punished for it.

“Conceding four goals at home against any team, it don’t what division you’re in, you’re never going to win a game of football.

“Scoring two goals at home should be enough to get you minimum a point against most teams.”

Tom Eastman joined a growing injury list at Victoria Road when going off before the hour mark, but Nik Tavares made his first start in 11 months and lasted the full 90 minutes.

“Easty isn’t going to come off unless he really has to,” added Strevens.

“I’ve got to find the reason for the injuries, I inherited loads last year when I came in.

“We’ve got to look at everything. We’re getting far too many injuries.

“Considering Tavs has been out for so long in that midfield area, when Easty has gone off the only option was to move him back into the defence.

“Lots of negatives but the fact Tavs has come back and played 90 minutes in two different positions I’m pleased for him.”

A second successive defeat leaves Daggers with just one point from a possible nine, having lost 2-0 at home to Essex rivals Southend United at the weekend, following a last-gasp 1-1 draw at Altrincham on the opening day of the season.

And Strevens acknowledged it has not been the best 10 days at the start of the campaign.

“Three games into the season it’s not the start any of us wanted,” he said.

“We have to be honest and say whatever formation we tried to play, it didn’t work because we lost the game.”