Fan View: Dagenham & Redbridge need change of trajectory

Saturday’s victory over Woking saw a Dagenham & Redbridge side not at their best but able to grind out a result, in contrast to games that have seen Ben Strevens’ men not get the win in spite of a good performance. 

It was Inih Effiong’s late winner that saw elation followed by a collective sigh of relief at Victoria Road, not least from the main man in the home dugout, as a first victory in 10 games was secured.

Josh Hare’s perfectly weighted, slide-rule pass straight into Effiong’s path saw the Daggers striker get his second of the season – having been recently sidelined through injury. 

The win brought relief, but this had to be built upon on Tuesday to prove the Daggers really had turned a corner.

Boreham Wood stood in the way, having had a difficult start themselves, with both sides looking to push up the table to where they feel they should be. 

There were fitting tributes to footballing great Sir Bobby Charlton, reflecting the monumental impact he had at every level of the English game and on the sport as a whole – having never graced the Victoria Road turf, but played the game we all love with such admirable style.

After the tributes, the game got underway and the hosts started the better of the two sides and found themselves in front through Effiong.

It looked as though the Daggers could be riding on the wave of positivity from the weekend. However, after Boreham Wood found the equaliser around 15 minutes later after a good spell the half-time whistle was greeted with relief from the home side, thankful not to be behind. 

But instead of regrouping and finding the next goal, what followed was an utter capitulation from Strevens’ side, as the visitors grew in confidence from taking the lead and the Daggers were nowhere to be seen. 

The reaction at the final whistle was a far cry from Saturday as boos rang around Victoria Road – another defeat and an opportunity to turn a corner missed, it’s not looking good at all from a Dagenham perspective. 

I saw one comment suggesting we were outclassed in every department, including between the benches, and it’s hard to disagree with that.

Strevens admitted his changes at half-time had no positive impact on the game and he was left to reflect on what was a dismal display. 

Asked about a reaction on Saturday against Ebbsfleet, he said he didn’t want to keep talking about ‘reactions’, since we’ve required too many of late from poor performances. That captures the frustration of the supporters, but it is his and the players’ job to turn it around. 

Meanwhile, the table continues to make for difficult reading with nine defeats from the first 17 games, sitting precariously above the drop zone.

Daggers need a good run of results, and fast, to change the trajectory of this season, but you have to say there is little hope of that right now. 

Hopefully there is something of a ‘reaction’ on Saturday at Ebbsfleet, followed by another, to inspire some hope into the supporters because it does seem pretty distant following Tuesday’s performance.

There is a lot of work to be done, a lot of questions to be answered. Those answers need to come sooner rather than later from Strevens’ men.

Come On You Daggers!