Dagenham & Redbridge boss relishing derby home opener

Dagenham & Redbridge boss Ben Strevens is relishing their first home game of the National League season on Saturday.

Daggers welcome Essex rivals Southend United to Victoria Road, having snatched a last-gasp 1-1 draw at Altrincham in their opener last weekend.

Harry Phipps headed a 98th-minute equaliser at Moss Lane, while Southend put their off-field problems behind them to run out 4-0 winners over Oldham Athletic at Roots Hall.

And Strevens told the club website: “Saturday is a big game because it’s our first home game.

“But let’s get it right, that means as much to the supporters, I know how big a game that is going to be for them. 

“I really hope as many people can be there, drag friends along, get right behind everyone.

“Our first home game of the season against Southend, I don’t think there’s many better than that.

“So please, as many Daggers out supporting the boys next Saturday and let’s hopefully make it a good day to try and get four points out of the first two games which I’d have took, but we need to win next Saturday now.”

Inih Effiong hit the crossbar but Daggers looked to be heading for a day one defeat, in difficult conditions, after Chris Conn-Clarke put Altrincham ahead on 80 minutes.

But Phipps rose highest to meet Josh Hare’s corner and ensure honours finished even to the relief of Strevens.

“I felt at that moment when they scored we had lost control for 10-15 minutes,” he added.

“We was certainly getting dragged around at that point, probably the only time in the game that I wasn’t really happy with how we were set up because they were getting chances or moments.

“The resilience of the group, the togetherness they’re building to stick in the game, at the end there’s a lot of injury time but it doesn’t mean you’re going to get anything out of it.

“But they kept fighting and going for it and I could see the emotion not just on them but the fans, who have been out in the pouring rain for 90 minutes, how much it meant to everyone.

“It was a great header by Phippsy as well, brilliant ball in, and we looked a threat from set-plays.

“They had the better parts of the game but we take the point.”
Daggers were cheered on by 115 travelling supporters as the new campaign began and the manager showed his gratitude.

“I’m really happy for them,” he said. 

“You’re excited for the first game, that feeling of losing the first game is a real body blow for fans, players, staff, all of us. The fact they’ve spent their hard-earned money, travelled up in conditions that have been terrible all the way up I’d imagine.

“Then if they come by train, I know there was a mini bus coming, I was told about that. I’m glad we gave them something to go home happy about.

“I know they would’ve wanted us to play better and get three points but at least they’ve gone home going ‘at least they were fighting to the end and got their moment with Phippsy’s header’.

“I thank them so much for it because I know how hard it was. We had to come up yesterday and our preparation wasn’t great, not anyone’s fault but we had bad travel up, we were supposed to train on the way up but we didn’t manage to do that.

“We knew the trains were dodgy so the fact 115 of them somehow got here I really appreciate it.”