FA Cup: Dagenham & Redbridge boss seeks boost at Bracknell

Daggers head to the Southern League Premier club for a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday – with the game being shown live on the BBC – in search of a first win in nine outings.

They have taken just three points from a possible 24 in the National League in that time, but battled to a 1-1 draw at Oldham Athletic last weekend.

And Strevens wants to build on that display at Boundary Park as they look to avoid a cup giantkilling in front of the cameras.

“We feel like performances have been getting better, but the results need to come with it,” he told the club website.

“Bracknell had a good cup run last year, their home form has been really important to them, they beat Havant in the last round, who used to be a National League club only a couple of years ago.

“They’re going to be decent. We have to come to terms with the environment we’re going into, in terms of the pitch because it’s a 3G.

“Winning a game of football, in the league or cup, is a confidence boost for everyone.

“If we’d won at Oldham last Saturday, I’d still be wanting to be do well in the FA Cup, I know how much it means to us as a club, to our fans.

“Everyone loves the FA Cup, we want to be involved in the draws and try and do well for the club. So we’ll be looking forward to the game and trying to get a victory.”

Strevens expects to have a similar squad of players available for the fourth qualifying round tie, with Nik Tavares and Ryan Hill remaining as doubts after missing out at Oldham.

He confirmed Tom Eastman and Elliott Johnson could feature ‘in some capacity’ after a good week in training.

“In fairness to the boys, they played really well last week,” he added.

“It was the last minute Hilly and Tavs not being involved. The boys that came in and what we worked on, they did really well.

“We covered loads in the early part of the week, looking at the game, what we did good and what we could do better.

“And the latter part of the week we’ve been focusing on working on the game plan ready for Saturday.

“I’ve been quite fortunate, I’ve been able to see a couple of their games by video, so we know a lot about them and realise what we need to do to try and be at our best on Saturday.

“It’s been a good week, a positive week looking forward to the game.”

Bracknell have beaten Harrow Borough, Havant & Waterlooville and Poole Town to reach this stage of the competition.

And when asked what Daggers need to do to ensure their name is in the hat for Sunday afternoon’s first-round draw, Strevens said: “Focusing on what we can do well.

“Working hard to get those moments to go in our favour.

“If we create as many chances as we did last Saturday I’m sure that will lead to goals.

“Being respectful of Bracknell but concentrating on ourselves, knowing the moments come and the chances come, it’s taking them.

“Doing whatever it takes to be in the draw the next day.”

*Bracknell Town v Dagenham & Redbridge will be shown live on BBC iPlayer, red button and BBC Sport website.