Friday 25 February 2011

The Big Preview: Daggers vs AFC Bournemouth

The Daggers are at Victoria Road again this Saturday for their fourth home game in six matches against a Bournemouth side unbeaten under Lee Bradbury. 15:00 Kick Off

The first look as always, is at the recent results of the two sides, we'll be nice and start with the cherries. They played a very tight game at Dean Court on Tuesday night against a currently poor Sheffield Wednesday, drawing 0-0 and Michael Symes missed a penalty to secure all three points. They had a slightly larger share of the possession in a tight game that probably could have gone either way. Their last Saturday game was also a draw against promotion chasing Huddersfield also at Dean Court, a game in which the cherries dominated entirely. Michael Symes scored their goal in that one, more about him later. The Daggers played out one of the most entertaining games at Victoria Road in recent seasons on Tuesday night, also against Huddersfield Town, the final score being 1-1. The game was very open and could have gone either way, the Daggers goal coming from winger Danny Green from the penalty spot who had a good game. The Daggers home form is really looking up recently, being unbeaten in their last three at home, turning Victoria Road back into the fortress it once was we hope !!


Danny Green slots home the Penalty

Next up is the form of both the teams, which has been pretty decent in recent times it has to be said. Bournemouth as mentioned previously haven't lost since Eddie Howe departed for Burnley, with Lee Bradbury doing a sterling job for the South coast club. Their last defeat was 2-1 away at Colchester in January that was screened by SkySports, since then they are unbeaten in eight, winning four, including a win against league leaders Brighton & Hove Albion. The current form table shows them to be fourth, with twelve points from a possible eighteen, which is pretty good considering the teams they have faced in recent weeks. If we look at their away form over the season, they have picked up eighteen points from a possible forty-five, conceding one more than they've scored, but on the day this will probably count for nothing. The form of striker Michael Symes has been key recently, scoring in his previous three games before Tuesday night. To the Daggers who have been on a decent run of form themselves recently, beaten only once in the last five outings, the only defeat coming at Walsall which I'm told was a very poor display. Our last home defeat was actually just over a month ago against MK Dons, as we have picked up quite considerably recently. In the form table we have eight points from eighteen which doesn't necessarily seem good, but it's quite a decent return for a side down the bottom end of the league. The form of Romain Vincelot & Jon Nurse has been key to the recent revival each gaining a good tally of goals, with Danny Green also chipping in recently.
The key man in this has been the form of Tony Roberts in 2011, he's kept us in so many games and without him between the sticks we could be a number of points worse for wear. The Daggers will be boosted by Plymouth being deducted ten points, whilst it's a bad thing, it's taken the Daggers up a place and we're now only two points from safety with three games in hand.


Symes of Accrington

Team News: The Daggers could be unchanged from the midweek draw, but Peter Gain will return from his three match ban and could replace Solomon Taiwo or Darren Currie who has become something of a regular at home in recent games. The Daggers will still be missing big centre half Will Antwi through a groin injury, but should be available next weekend. The one almost certain change for the Daggers will be at left back, Damien McCrory who replaced Femi 30 minutes in during the midweek game should start against the cherries. The only other possible change could be that of Marvin Morgan coming in for Bas Savage, but that's John Still's decision, however they will both play some part in the game. Lee Bradbury could name an unchanged side from the one that drew with Sheffield Wednesday in midweek with Warren Cummings still missing through illness. Their man to watch is Liam Feeney or Michael Symes, both carry a big threat with Feeney being the tricky winger, a Dagenham kind of player as he was signed from non league Salisbury City. Symes formerly of Accrington has scored seven goals this season, but has been their main threat home and away from Dean Court recently.

Previous Meetings:-
Bournemouth 3-0 Dagenham & Redbridge 2010/2011
Dagenham & Redbridge 1-0 Bournemouth 2009/2010
Bournemouth 0-0 Dagenham & Redbridge 2009/2010
Dagenham & Redbridge 0-1 Bournemouth 2008/2009
Bournemouth 2-1 Dagenham & Redbridge 2008/2009
Bournemouth 4-1 Dagenham (predecessor) 1985/1986 FA Cup
Walthamstowe Avenue (predecessor) 1-3 Bournemouth & Boscombe (predecessor) 1967/1968 FA Cup
Walthamstowe Avenue (predecessor) 2-3 Bournemouth & Boscombe (predecessor) 1959/1960 FA Cup
Bournemouth & Boscombe (predecessor) 8-1 Walthamstowe Avenue (predecessor) 1935/1936 FA Cup
Walthamstowe Avenue (predecessor) 1-1 Bournemouth & Boscombe (predecessor) 1935/1936 FA Cup

The referee for this game is Mr R L Lewis, whom I can't find stats for, the linesmen are P J Knight & W Atkin. The fourth official is H W Leonard.

This game should be a tough contest between two teams that gained promotion last season, expect a battle with some good football at times, the margins of scores between these two do tend to be tight in the modern era. My prediction, again it's an optimistic 1-1, I cannot see us getting a win, unless it's a late one.

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