The Big Preview: Walsall vs Daggers

The Daggers travel to the Banks Stadium on Tuesday night hoping for a win that will lift them even closer to safety knowing that they have games in hand on the teams in and around them.

At the weekend the teams had contrasting results, both being at home however. The saddlers suffered what seemed an unfortunate defeat to Lee Bradburys Bournemouth, with a late free kick, not dissimilar to Gavin Tomlin's for the Daggers against Southampton in January; cannoning off the underside of the bar. This dually gave Bournemouth the win, but on recent form, Walsall can be extremely confident like the Daggers of escaping the clutches of the relegation zone. Bournemouth's goal came from a corner, which suggests the Daggers may be able to capitalise through set pieces against Walsall. The Daggers however fought through to get a great scrappy win against a rejuvenated Yeovil Town side in recent weeks. The Daggers scored through a Romain Vincelot thunderbolt header from a corner, his 9th goal this season and a great piece of work from Jon Nurse, turning the defender and slotting home cooley. However the result was not as comfortable as it may seem, if the Daggers were playing a better team, they could have been 3-0 down in the first half if Yeovil had taken their chances. The lesson to be learnt is to not lose concentration, with a defence lapse leading to the goal and a number of other opportunities.

Let's go into the form. Walsall have been in good form since appointing Dean Smith as manager, just losing to Bournemouth 1-0 at the weekend ending a run of four games unbeaten that included a thumping 6-1 win over Bristol Rovers at home and a good performance in a 3-1 away win at Carlisle. They now find themselves a very respectable 12th in the form table having picked up eight points from a possible eighteen in six games. They have also had a wide variety of scorers in this time, but the most prolific being Julian Gray. Walsalls home form has been slightly poor, only picking up 4 home wins, like the Daggers and amounting 13 points from 14 games. The Daggers are enjoying their best spell of form in the entire season so far. A terrific 2-1 weekend win came on the back of a good 1-1 draw against a promotion chasing Oldham side & one of the best results of the season, a thumping 4-1 win over Brentford at Victoria Road. This has left the Daggers in 9th in the form table, having picked up ten points from a possible eighteen. The Daggers have been slightly more prolific scoring wise this month with Jon Nurse & Romain Vincelot both bagging three so far as the Daggers have endured a currently unbeaten February. Our away form has however picked up of late, with three away wins and twelve points being amassed that is a respectable for a team near the bottom. Walsall have found the net more times, although they have played more games, they have scored 38 compared to the Daggers slightly lower 31. Defence wise, the Dag & Red are far better, having conceded 42 goals, whereas the saddlers have let in 55 so far.



Walsall loan signing, Tom Williams



Team News: Walsall could be unchanged from Saturdays defeat at the Banks Stadium, but may include left midfielder Tom Williams who signed on loan for the rest of the campaign from Peterborough United this week. Otherwise the Saddlers will be unchanged. The one that you may remember is their goalkeeper, Jonny Brain who regularly featured on Soccer AM for his cock ups whilst playing for Macclesfield Town last season. Let's hope he does the same against us.  



Green Could Make A Return



On Tuesday evening the daggers could also be unchanged from the weekend game against Yeovil, the main injury doubt is centre half Scott Doe who picked up a arm injury and had to be taken off on Saturday. Should he be unable to play, I reckon Will Antwi may come back into the side after a spell out. We do however have midfielder Danny Green back from a three game suspension, but the Daggers haven't lost since he's been banned so will Still be reluctant to change things. My instinct says yes, as the last away game Darren Currie didn't play so Green will probably find himself back in the line up, or maybe Billy Bingham if he's lucky. Peter Gain serves the second of his three game suspension, whilst Josh Scott & John Akinde are out for the season with their respective injuries.

The officials for this one are, Mr P Gibbs from the West Midlands. The daggers games he's refereed are:-
Lincoln City 1-3 Daggers. 2008/2009 season
Daggers 2-1 Aldershot Town. 2006/2007 season
Woking 0-0 Daggers. 2005/2006 season
Northwich 0-1 Daggers. 2003/2004 season.
Telford 1-0 Daggers. 2003/2004 season.

The Linesmen are Mr N Murphy & Mr G R Russell. The fourth official is G P Johnson.

My Prediction, Walsall 1-2 Dagenham & Redbridge.
Up The Daggers, Let's get 3 points and move closer to safety !












Previous Meetings:
2010/2011 Dagenham & Redbridge 1-1 Walsall
1977/1978 Walsall 1-0 Dagenham (predecessor)            FA Cup
1971/1972 Walsall 4-1 Dagenham (predecessor)            FA Cup
1968/1969 Leytonstone (predecessor) 0-1 Walsall         FA Cup
1967/1968 Leytonstone (predecessor) 0-1 Walsall         FA Cup
1946/1947 Leytonstone (predecessor) 1-6 Walsall         FA Cup