FAN VIEW: Dagenham & Redbridge show spirit in defeat

In spite of defeat at Chesterfield, last Saturday’s performance encapsulated the spirit Ben Strevens has worked hard to implement at Dagenham & Redbridge this season – one full of tenacity and desire.

The test of coming up against the Spireites saw the Daggers arrive as underdogs but they nonetheless gave a good account of themselves, for which they were praised by supporters. 

As Strevens himself remarked, he came away ‘gutted and frustrated’ testament to the fight of the visitors to be in the game and disappointed to come away empty-handed – leading until the 73rd minute.

A Harry Phipps red card turned the game, debatable whether it was a goal-scoring opportunity, though an obvious foul – a disadvantage that his side struggled with in the conditions, contending with the hot weather as well as the 7,000-strong home crowd. 

Although the winning streak stopped, the level of performance did not drop off on Saturday and so spirits remain high. They are arguably higher, taking heart from going toe-to-toe with strong opposition, there is a strong desire to put things back on track on Saturday in Oxford. 

They will be without Phipps, with the defender suspended for three games, but his replacement Aidan Francis-Clarke did not look out of place on his debut in difficult circumstances. 

The stand-out performers included fellow defender Nik Tavares and midfield maestro Omar Mussa who once more showed his powerful ability to dictate play. After the latter was substituted the Daggers were very much under the cosh, camped in their own half. 

The Daggers go into this week then ready to get back to winning ways with a trip to newly-promoted Oxford City, a side on a five-game unbeaten run whose most recent defeat also came against the Spireites.

The Hoops have also been free-scoring of late with 12 goals in their last three games, scoring five last time out in a 5-2 victory over Hartlepool, another notable result being a 4-0 victory over Boreham Wood. 

Therefore this will be another test for Strevens’ side, though one of a different nature, added to by greater hopes of victory than last time out. 

So long as they don’t fall into the trap of playing well against the big teams and not so well against the bottom-half teams that has seen the Daggers falter in recent seasons –  the level of performance remaining consistent – there should be great optimism for the weeks ahead. 

The busy fixture schedule returns, with the trip to Oxford followed by a return to Victoria Road to face Bromley on Tuesday, but more about that next week after hopefully a successful trip to Oxford. 

Until next week, Come On You Daggers!