Dagenham & Redbridge served notice of their intentions this season at the weekend putting the previously unbeaten league leaders Gateshead to the sword.
Ben Strevens’ side have had a mixed start to their National League campaign but a 7-1 thrashing of the Heed in front of the DAZN cameras on Saturday evening has lifted the side into the top ten.
Now sitting just a point off the play-off places Strevens knows his side are handily placed to keep in touch with the top seven and can also see they are able to pick apart teams when everything clicks together.
The lack of consistency is one thing the former Daggers player needs to address. No wins away from Victoria Road is one of the reasons for the slow start from his team. Although they have lost less games currently than third placed Barnet converting draws on the road into wins is what makes the difference from the nearly teams to the good teams.
Keeping summer signings Josh Umerah and Reece Grego-Cox fit are key to a successful season, players who on their day are proven match winners but struggle to put in the appearances on the pitch through injury.
Many thought it was a gamble taking either one of these players given those concerns but so far the minutes are being managed and both are contributing at the right end of the pitch.
The stand out player so far and the one who could be the real difference between an end of season promotion chance or an early summer on the beach is loan signing Dion Pereria.
Having been at the club last season for a short spell, Strevens persuaded Luton Town to allow the midfielder to return to Victoria Road for the full campaign without a return clause.
So far the twenty-five year old has repaid the faith shown in him and is the club’s joint top scorer alongside Josh Rees with six goals each. Rees is another player finding form after a mixed 2023/24 season for the Daggers, revelling in his role alongside the goal scoring loanee.
Strevens’ summer recruitment was clever. Besides bringing in those mentioned above the return of Junior Morias on loan from Notts County has added strength to the top end of the pitch, giving the manager some selection headaches if he can keep all fit for the length of the campaign.
With top level strikers in short supply, it’s becoming increasingly noticeable that clubs need to find goals from all over the pitch in order to win games and be that little bit different.
The Daggers don’t have great depth across the squad, they are in the second year of their rebuilding strategy laying some strong foundations which definitely should see them on course to land some huge blows next season if they fall just short this time around.
There isn’t much room currently for manoeuvre, just three points separates Dagenham in ninth spot down to Essex rivals Southend Utd in seventeenth and the opportunity to pick up nine points in week beginning on Saturday Strevens could be looking down from the top seven in two weeks’ time
Be the first to comment