Dagenham & Redbridge 2 Rovers 2

[Boz]

Did anyone go? Sounds like a hard earned point, have seen Cressa's point saving strike on youtube, a quality goal. Other talking points in the match were a Goodison elbow and the tackle which led to Joss being stretchered off both only attracting yellow cards.

Les seemed to think we were lucky to come away with a draw. We also seem to have suffered a number of injuries, with McLaren's groin strain and Nick Wood's ankle going alongside Joss looking bad after today. As for ITM's sore knee, the timing of that suggests teddy out of pram time, or am I being too cynical?

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I don't want to be too harsh on the lads as they did show great character to fight their way back into the game, but for seventy minutes today we were dire. The BBC statistics tell their own story; our first goal was our first shot on target !

Dagenham were the most stereotypical long ball team I have seen for years and simply bombarded our box with high balls, but we never seemed to cope with their tactics. The midfield struggled to string two passes together (not helped by the injuries to McLaren and Labadie, who was stretchered off and looks badly hurt), and Les's decision to put Bakayogo to centre back when McClaren was subbed baffled me. He seemed to struggle for the rest of the game, and both of Dagenham's goals were from routine corners where we failed to pick up the man in the box.

Surely it would have been better at this stage to bring Fraughan back into the midfield and leave a specialist centre back, Blanchard, in his favoured position, particularly as Dagenham's sole attacking ploy was to put us under pressure in the air ?

Dagenham are the kind of side we really should be beating if we are to survive this season, and today's game has left me with more questions than answers. Both Brown and Akins were anonymous, even lightweight, and I am starting to question whether it was sensible to let Gornell go when our new strikers are inexperienced and unproven at this level.

On the positive side, Goodison was exceptional at the back, McGuirk looked decent when he came on, and Showunmi appears to be better in front of goal than many people expected. Cresswell's equaliser was also superb, similar to the free kick he scored at Lairds in pre-season.

At least we are still unbeaten away from home, and the point has kept us off the bottom.

 

[roverstillidie]

As for ITM's sore knee, the timing of that suggests teddy out of pram time, or am I being too cynical?

I agree, I would have told him to get on the coach or sit in the reserves for a month!

A good result considering we were 2-0 down, when did we last get something away from home in that situation? I'm a bit bewildered by Les' comments as although they might be true, saying the team was lucky doesn't really boost players confidence.

If a McLaren is out for a significant period of time, maybe there is a god [-o< Wood isn't much of a loss either but if Labadie is out too we could become very streched at the back. We might have to play 10 men with Goodison playing as both centre backs!

I would still take 20th at the end of the season now, and I'm seriously worried that having looked at our upcoming fixtures our first win may not be until Bristol Rovers at home.

 

[DIW]

Sore knee my arse.

Good point especially after being 2 down with 20 minutes left although I did get the feeling from the online commentary that we were not exactly threatening in front of goal. Fantastic strike from Cresswell, it's been a bit strange him getting in the side ahead of Zoum who was good last season, but fair play to the lad that was as good a free kick as you will see. Maybe Zoum, could play a bit of left mid and we might finally find some width.

Need to follow up with a home win next week.

 

[Ian]

At 2-0 down it wasn't looking good at all, but credit to the lads for battling on and getting a draw. Two good finishes for our goals. What a free-kick from Cresswell! Just a shame we only started to play in the last 20 mins. It was a winnable game, shame they played most of the game so poorly.

 

[SonkORLY?]

Anyone got a link to the vid of Cressa's goal?

 

[roverstillidie]

Anyone got a link to the vid of Cressa's goal?

All on the BBC website, early contender for goal of the season.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8953857.stm

 

[TheBunnyBellEnd]

We allowed a team that had yet to score a league goal put 2 past us. Had we played ANYONE esle we would have been on the recieveing end of a hiding. Daggers are an awful side that we made look half decent. We for long periods of the game were second best and didnt really deserve anything from the game.