Gary Johnson’s side return to Plainmoor on Saturday, as they take on mid table Dagenham & Redbridge.
With another crucial three points on offer, Johnson’s men will be eager to claim maximum rewards at Plainmoor tomorrow, as they continue their fight to claw themselves away from the bottom four of the National League table.
Who’s the Boss?
Ben Strevens took the managers job at Dagenham on the 10th March following the departure of Daryl McMahon, and took charge of his first game last weekend in the 1-1 home draw with Oldham Athletic, having been a player for the Daggers in two previous spells.
Strevens was formerly manager at Eastleigh between 2018 and 2022, having been an assistant manager at the Spitfires in the two years previous to his appointment as manager. The forward began his playing career at Barnet where in a seven year spell he made over 200 league and cup appearances and scored over 40 goals. Upon his release from North London, Ben made his way to Essex when he signed for Dagenham in his first spell with the club until 2009, when he then went on to play for Brentford, Wycombe and then Gillingham before returning to Victoria Park in 2013.
Strevens first spell at Eastleigh came in 2013 after his release from Dagenham, and in two spells with the Hampshire club he played over 150 league and cup games and scored over 20 goals before his managerial career at The Silverlake’s Stadium began.
How have they been doing?
Dagenham had a slow start to the season and once picked up their first win against Maidenhead in mid August. A mixture of wins and defeats followed including a nine goal thriller against Barnet with the Daggers running out 5-4 winners, a 3-2 win away at Chesterfield and a surprise 5-1 defeat at Dorking, though they did end the game with ten men, as well as a 1-0 home defeat to United at the beginning of December thanks to a solitary Will Goodwin goal.
Since the turn of the year the mixed results have continued with a 3-2 defeat at Scunthorpe preceeding a win at then league leaders Notts County 2-1 following the departure of manager Daryl McMahon. Coming into this game Dagenham sit in 12th position with a record of 15 wins, 7 draws and 15 defeats, with 52 points from their 37 games played so far.
Player to Watch
Jay Bird joined Dagenham & Redbridge in November and came off the bench on his debut to score the late winner in the Daggers 2-1 home win against Scunthorpe United. Bird came through the youth ranks at MK Dons before signing his first professional contract in 2019, and while at Stadium MK had loan spells at Hitchin Town and Wealdstone before arriving at Victoria Park. The striker scored in the Essex club’s last match netting the opener in ther 1-1 draw with Oldham Athletic.
Played for Both
United’s Shaun Donnellan came through the youth ranks at West Bromwich Albion, signing his first profession contract with the Baggies in 2015, and while at the Hawthorns the midfielder had loan spells at Worcester City, Dagenham & Redbridge where he made 21 appearances in 2017 and Walsall before his contract expired at Albion. Upon his release Donnellan then spent the the first half of 2018/19 season at Yeovil Town, before spending the second half of the season at Maidstone United. 2019/20 saw the 26 year old at Woking, before a move from Surrey to Berkshire took him to Maidenhead United for the next two years, before his arrival at Plainmoor in July 2022.
Previous Encounter
United 2 – 2 Dagenham, Saturday 7th January 2022, Vanarama National League
Despite racing into a two-goal lead, United had to settle for a point against Dagenham & Redbridge at Plainmoor in last seasons game.
The start made by Gary Johnson’s side was a perfect one. After skipper Asa Hall gave his side the perfect start with a first-minute goal, Danny Wright followed that up by doubling that advantage shortly after. The visiting side responded through Josh Walker though, and after Angelo Balanta restored parity in the second half, the game finished honours-even.