The Big Preview: Daggers vs Yeovil Town

So the Daggers face a tricky test against a fast improving Yeovil Town side at Victoria Road this weekend. Since the Daggers 3-1 victory at Huish Park in mid November, a lot has changed, the Daggers goalscorers that day were Medy Elito who has now returned to Colchester & Abu Ogogo along with Will Antwi who are still very much a part of Daggers first XI, especially Ogogo. This game is a great indicator of how far former non league sides can go and show's that there is hope for all non league sides yet.

Something that hasn't changed that both sides must be credited for is the managers. The Daggers were never at all likely to give John Still the boot, after all he is a legend in these parts, he is virtually unsackable. The glovers however have to be credited, Terry Skiverton was going through an extremely rough patch and full credit to himself and the board that he still has his job. One of the youngest managers in the league & his credentials are really starting to shine through, remember he's only 35. At the time of the 3-1 Daggers victory in November, both clubs were on 15 points and were in the relegation zone, 4 points from safety. The Daggers still find themselves in the drop zone, but there's plenty of hope left for us with plenty of games in hand and the squad brimming with confidence and belief. Yeovil however have advanced out of the bottom 4, but are still only 2 points from 21st despite being in what seems a comfortable 15th place position. A defeat at the hands of the Daggers could see them slip back in, on the flip side they're only eleven points off the play offs, although that is a extremely unlikely probability.

On recent form this game is a hard one too call with recent results being up and down like a yo yo. Having lost at home to Charlton at the weekend, they previously beat Plymouth at home and Brentford away. They have been very good recently against the sides in and around them which has proved vital. The Daggers have seen a small revival in recent weeks with a great 4-1 win over Brentford just over a week ago with goals from Nurse, Vincelot & an own goal seeing them move off the bottom briefly and as a consequence getting Adny Scott sacked. At the weekend we achieved a great 1-1 draw at Boundary Park with Vincelot being our scorer again and the defence improving game on game things are definately moving forward for us. Unfortunately for the Daggers this recent good little revival which has seen them go to 16th in the form table has coincided with other teams such as Walsall who have been playing well recently. Yeovil are 11th in the form guide.



Will Currie return ?



Let's take a look at the teams. The Daggers are without two strikers in Josh Scott who has been sidelined for the rest of the season & John Akinde who has been sent back to Bristol City after needing a hernia op, but with Jone Nurse on form and our sudden upturn in form coming with the signing of Marvin Morgan who needs em; eh ? It is however unclear with John Still will stick with the same side that got the draw against Oldham or revert back to the side that beat Brentford 4-1 under the Viccy Road floodlights the other week. This would mean Darren Currie returns to the squad, however Peter Gain is now banned due to getting a straight red at Oldham last week with Danny Green serving out the last game of his suspension. This means Billy Bingham should definately keep his place and Currie may well come back in. For Yeovil on Saturday they may include new loan signing Antonio German who signed today on loan from QPR, he's a striker and is on loan until the rest of the season. They may also include former Millwall left back Danny Fitzsimons who signed on Wednesday. Other than that the Glovers should be unchanged with Dean Bowditch being their main goal threat.

The one thing that may let the game down however is the attendance of the two teams. The Daggers have been averaging a very respecatable 2700 this season, but against Brentford only 1907 turned up, this was under the floodlights however. No disrespect to Yeovil, but I do not expect them to bring a large amount to the Marcus James Stand. However I may and I do hope I'm wrong, whatever the attendance it will be a good atmosphere at a bouncing and optomistic Victoria Road.

The Officials at Victoria Road for this one are Mr David Phillips (referee) who was last man in the middle for the Daggers with the 1-1 draw against Hartlepool in October. The linesmen are M S Scholes & R P Whitton, the fourth Official is O Saliy.

Previous Meetings:-

2009/2010- Yeovil Town 1-3 Dagenham & Redbridge

2002/2003-  Dagenham & Redbridge 0-4 Yeovil Town

2002/2003- Yeovil Town 2-2 Dagenham & Redbridge

2001/2002- Yeovil Town 3-3 Dagenham & Redbridge

2001/2002- Dagenham & Redbridge 1-1 Yeovil Town
2000/2001- Dagenham & Redbridge 2-0 Yeovil Town

2000/2001- Yeovil Town 1-3 Dagenham & Redbridge

Come On The Daggers, In You We Believe !!!