BACK TO WINNING WAYS AT WEYMOUTH
Relief. A feeling felt by many a Dagger as the final whistle blew on the
south coast, yet that was mainly due to how hard McMahon’s men made it for
themselves (and not least their nervous supporters) late on. A sight relief
also felt, out of the context of the game and into the wider context of the
season, as it was a win – in a match where it was imperative to pick up all
three points and we did. 2-3!
That first goal went in early on and I thought that my headline from the
weekend would ring true – ‘Here we go again?’ – ring true with a resounding answer
of yes, here we go again. It was a slow start from Daryl’s boys in red, white
and blue – no change there.
But, this is where I felt the players earnt respect and brough back
faith within the fanbase, for now, not only did they turn it around throughout
the course of the game – no, within minutes the game was turned on its head. It
reassured me anyway that, Weymouth, tipped for relegation were not at the same
level as us and we were rightly superior. Though the scoreline suggests it was
a much closer contest.
Our simply abysmal away record from last season, if it were to have been
reflected on Tuesday and if it is to carry on throughout this season – our flirting
with relegation would undoubtably resume. But on Tuesday we didn’t buckle in
that all too familiar Daggers fashion, and though the performance wasn’t
polished – we got the job done – something we managed only twice last season.
That being to manage a win on the road!
So, despite the late surge, it was too little too late for the ten men
in claret and blue and the reaction of many was aligned with mine – the win is
what matters – though we can delve into the performance. We posed a great attacking
threat and we not only out-scored our opponents but did so with 3 goals on the
scoresheet! This would debunk the idea that our attacking department is very
weak, in part, as now we had scored three goals away from home for the first
time in a very long time.
The pace at which we transitioned from defence to attack, was, with no
exaggeration – a joy to behold. The goal that put us ahead, completing the
turnaround, had a real scintillating build-up. Ultimately seeing Paul McCallum
get his second of the season; latching onto Wright’s driven cross.
Despite the impressive offensive display, there are still errors being
made and frailties at the back that, to use McMahon’s turn of phrase, ‘we need
to iron out’. The opening goal saw Elliot Justham at fault, and the second
another lapse in concentration. The truth is that the opposition faced on
Tuesday were weaker, and though we won with 3 goals to 2, it’s unlikely we’ll
be bagging 3 goals a game.
What’s more, it’s not commonplace that a side concedes two goals and goes
on to win any game of football – against a better outfit than Weymouth, the
Daggers would inevitably come unstuck. Though, that’s enough looking ahead to
the future, and in further analysis of the match – a decisive moment in the
encounter was the dismissal of Wakefield before the break.
This dampened the hosts spirits further after having their lead snatched
from them within minutes; Terras totally stunned by a fast-paced series of
events that saw them not only a goal down but a man down. They failed to come
back from that, after conceding a penalty which Mitch Brundle was to convert
for his second of the game – his individual performance and those of others we’ll
get onto in the player ratings later.
First, I
wanted to just briefly assess McMahon’s post-match reaction which wasn’t as
much of a spectacle as Saturday’s scathing take on a performance he labelled – ‘a
disgrace’. It was more subdued by all accounts, the overriding feeling being
that of cautious optimism looking ahead; Daryl saying that ‘we needed the win and
we got it,’ but continuing to state how ‘we made it hard for ourselves’.
Playing
down the performance further, the Irishman spoke of how, though ‘we controlled’
the second half – the ‘last ten minutes were sloppy’ – putting that down to
complacency. Noting that in the ‘things we need to iron out’ column if we are
to be a ‘serious side in this division’.
He did
though praise the performance overall, especially the ‘fantastic’ second goal and
on the quick turnaround – he spoke of how it was ‘one of quality and composure,
what you want to see’.
Looking to
the future, and a line that epitomised the tone of the interview, McMahon spoke
of how ‘we are moulding into, hopefully, a good team,’ and that Tuesday’s
victory was ‘a step forward’.
That ‘hopefully’
signalling his caution, and you could put a negative spin on that and claim he’s
still uncertain of what he’ll get from his players – as the manager complained
on Saturday. But, at the same time, and the more prominent view, is one of that
– we are getting there – though admitting there’s room for improvement. I’d
side with the latter argument.
This reading
of room for improvement is evidenced by McMahon going on to say ‘we will be
more professional’ as he wants to drill into his team this ruthlessness –
claiming we were ‘too lax’ at 3-1. Highlighting there is no room for complacency.
He singled
out, Mitch Brundle, who bagged a brace, and Darren McQueen, introduced to the starting
XI, for praise to conclude the interview.
Here are the player ratings, and I’ve
picked out certain performances for comment:
Elliot Justham – 6
A mistake may see him as the lowest rated,
but really, the average performance rating of 6 can be put down to Justham not
being tested enough throughout the course of the game. His defence, all receiving
7s, on the whole were resolute and good in the air – bar those final ten minutes.
Will Wright – 7
Kenny Clark – 7
Luke Croll – 7
Elliot Johnson – 7
Mitch
Brundle – 9
MOTM then, Mitch Brundle, bagging his brace
and responding to critics of his by turning up on Tuesday night. He is, as almost
every player at this level (partly why they’re at this level), inconsistent. But,
throughout the course of the 90 minutes in Weymouth, he was competent, workmanlike
and his quality going forward – he showcased perfectly. A great first goal to
kick-start Dagenham’s rapid turnaround. McMahon noted how his midfield
colleague Rance unleashed Brundle into a more advanced role where he shone.
Dean Rance – 8
He, like Weston, improved the performance
on Saturday – coming into the starting XI – Rance had the same impact: a
battler, hard-worker and good passer of the ball. Dean Rance is great with
Ogogo doing the hard running in the middle of the park. The midfield 3 really
did control their part of the pitch, before and after the Wakefield red card.
Abu Ogogo – 7
Myles Weston – 8
Myles has quickly become a favourite of
mine, McMahon at the fans’ forum tipping him to be liked by the supporters - as
he was at Ebbsfleet. His skill and ability down the wing saw him prove a constant
threat again on Tuesday.
Darren McQueen – 8
Paul McCallum - 8
So, a positive result heading into the weekend, the supporters return in 2 days' time to Victoria Road as the Daggers look to make it back-to-back wins against Altrincham!
COYD,
Keane
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