Dagenham & Redbridge made it
two wins in a week on Saturday with a stirring fight back against Rochdale at
Victoria Road. Despite Dale taking the lead through Andrew Tutte's strike, the
hosts rallied and equalised through Abu Ogogo before Medy Elito sealed the
three points in the 92nd minute. Unfortunately on Daggers against Racism Day,
it's something unsavoury that threatens to take the headlines with
Dale's Bobby Grant accused of aiming racial remarks at Daggers right back Gavin
Hoyte.
John Still's men were coming into
this one on a mixed run of form. A victory at Accrington last week was followed
up by a lacklustre defeat against Morecambe in midweek where the vast amount of
travelling finally caught up with Daggers. Rochdale had only won two of their
last six, but their away form speaks for itself with six victories on the road
this campaign. They had however lost their last two which allowed for some
optimism in the home camp.
Despite ticket prices being
vastly reduced for Saturdays encounter, as I entered Victoria Road it didn't
appear to be particularly full. Saying that though it was 20 minutes before kickoff
and there was someone killing a Coldplay song over the tannoy. Although to be
fair to the singer, having a live song played over the tannoy is always going
to sound muffled. Things only got worse soon after when we alerted to the
disastrous news that The
Daggerettes had been held up
in traffic.
To stop myself weeping into my
burger at the thought of no Daggerettes, I immersed myself in the team news...
Dagenham & Redbridge: Lewington, Hoyte, Doe,
Wilkinson, Femi, Saunders, Ogogo, Howell, Elito, Williams, Woodall. Subs: Seabright, Bingham, Caprice,
Scott, Reed, Spillane, Maher.
After being rested for the
midweek trip to Lancashire Sam Williams was recalled to the starting line up
which meant Josh Scott dropped to the bench. He was joined there by Mickey
Spillane whose rumoured move to Southend United is seemingly keeping him out of
the team. New signing Sean Shields wasn't in the 18, likewise with Gianluca
Gracco.
Rochdale: Lillis, Pearson, Edwards,
Bennett, McIntyre, Cavanagh, Tutte, Barry-Murphy, Grant, Grimes, Gornell. Subs: Smith, Donnelly, Kennedy,
Putterill, Adebola, Minihan, Craney.
Dale boss John Coleman opted to
make two changes for the trip to Victoria Road, with both Matty Patterson &
Brian Barry-Murphy recalled to the starting line up. They replaced the
suspended Joe Rafferty and Jason Kennedy who was amongst the substitutes. Terry
Gornell had signed permanently at Spotland this week following a successful
loan spell and remained up front for the Greater Manchester side.
With the ground slowly filling
up, the sides emerged from the tunnel to muffled applause. They were
joined by several flag bearers who unsurprisingly bore several flags as they
were paraded onto the pitch. With the teams organised, huddles complete and a
lovely pocket of space for me to sprawl in the Sieve, we began.
It was a frantic start with
Daggers having the best of the early play. Scott Doe saw his effort saved
whilst Lillis was again on hand minutes later to deny Brian Woodall's tame
strike. After a lull where Sam Williams was forced to change his shirt,
Rochdale managed their first meaningful attack. Unfortunately for them though,
Luke Wilkinson in his debut Football League season slid in to deny newly signed
Terry Gornell an effort at the target.
You could tell from a mile away
that this was a mid table encounter by the way the game was being shaped in the
midfield. It was very scrappy with few moments of quality. Matt Saunders'
intricate through ball nearly opened a door for Sam Williams, but it was firmly
shut again when McIntyre got across to block. Woodall then attempted an
overhead kick which needless to say didn't find the back of the net.
With just under 25 minutes gone,
we were treated to the first meaningful save of the match. Bobby Grant's precise
free kick looked to be flying into the top corner, but Chris Lewington
stretched his long arm across to deny the front man. Lewington was called into
action once more five minutes later, this time to force Grant's dipping effort
over the crossbar. The former Accrington forward was looking like the go to guy
as Rochdale continued to assert pressure on the hosts.
Despite Dale having the better of
the chances, Daggers really should have taken the lead with 34 minutes gone.
Medy Elito's well weighted cross to the back post was met by an unmarked Brian
Woodall who could only manage to blaze over from a good position. Similarly
before the half time whistle Scott Doe spurned a gilt edge chance in the same
position by firing over the bar.
It was a largely uneventful half
so both sides would have been happy to go in level. Daggers had the best of the
clear cut chances, yet Rochdale looked the more likely side to score. Having
tested Lewington a couple of times they were looking the most dangerous. Both
sides were finding it hard to establish a foothold on the game which accounted
for the scrappy nature of the encounter.
The second half began in the same
fashion with Dale looking the more dominant force. Bobby Grant saw another
effort blocked whilst Ashley Grimes' curling effort beat Chris Lewington, but
missed the target. Terry Gornell headed a shot narrowly wide of the post whilst
Grant was once again denied by another superb block. Despite considerable Dale
pressure, the breakaway was always an option for Daggers who had yet to
implement a good attack in the second period.
The game remained tight going
into the final 30 minutes, with Josh Lillis making a superb double stop to deny
Medy Elito. With little over 20 minutes to go, Rochdale struck a seemingly
decisive blow. Terry Gornell broke free before seeing his shot parried well by
Lewington before Bobby Grant reclaimed the loose ball and laid it into the path
of a grateful Andrew Tutte who slammed home into the top corner of the net.
Luke Wilkinson's shared supporter’s frustration as despite having the better
chances, we were behind.
Despite that setback, just two
minutes after the goal Daggers were back on level terms. Matt Saunders' ball
found Gavin Hoyte who in turn crossed for Williams to head at Lillis who once
again made a superb stop. This time though he couldn't get to the rebound and
Abu Ogogo was on hand to slam home the equaliser. It made a welcome change for
Abu to find the net at the right end!
Even though the game was now wide
open for the taking, neither side were able to capitalise and take advantage.
Rochdale were looking the more likely, but despite testing Lewington earlier in
the game were unable to do so now. Bobby Grant & Gavin Hoyte then received
yellow cards for an altercation that took place off the ball - which we'll go
into more later.
And then with just minutes
remaining in the game, came a Daggers winner. Femi played it to Sam Williams
who despite being urged to shoot, laid in Medy Elito who slotted a composed
finish past Lillis and into the corner of the net. Andrew Tutte held his head
in his hands as Daggers players and supporters alike enjoyed manic celebrations
for the first last minute winner from open play in some time.
That last minute winner lifts
Daggers up to 13th in the table, just three points off of the Play Off spots,
which seems quite remarkable. The unfortunate altercation between Gavin Hoyte
& Bobby Grant is currently being dealt with by the Met Police & the FA
after Grant was accused of using a racial term against Hoyte. As much as I'd
love to give a more detailed analysis, due to other work I'm a bit pushed for
time, so hopefully the report itself will suffice! Normality will resume next
week.
I won't delve into that as
everything's alleged at the moment - although what I will say is to watch out
for my SkySports Blog later in the week that'll have a
brief overview of some positive events from the day.
Next week we travel to Adams Park
to face Wycombe Wanderers and hopefully I'll be there! Until then, have a good
week!
Remember to follow me on Twitter,
@NickDRFCMurphy.
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