Next Up: Away to Dagenham and Redbridge
Having bowed meekly out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday night with a “performance” that had the 1600 or so unfortunate attendees reminiscing about the worst showings at home last season, it’s back to league action on Saturday with a visit to the far east and Dagenham & Redbridge. With John O’Flynn nursing a sore hamstring he may not be risked, meaning Alan Gow is likely to partner Sam Parkin up front, while Matt Oakley and skipper Danny Coles, rested in midweek, are likely 
to return to the line-up. Jamie Reid is in Northern Ireland U21 action this week, but may be able to return in time to take his place on the bench.
When the bookies posted their odds for the new League Two season, as usual the tiny Dagenham & Redbridge were plonked straight near the bottom. Having lost the services of long-serving manager John Still to non-league Luton late last season, they won only one of their last nine games (guess where!) and survived by the skin of their teeth. Despite this caretaker manager Wayne Burnett was installed on a permanent deal, but there has been little to suggest the bookies were wrong in predicting the Daggers to struggle – a solitary league win over York in their first five games has seen them hovering near the bottom. However, there was a ray of sunshine on Tuesday night with a 4-1 thumping of League One Colchester in the JPT meaning Burnett’s side are in good heart going into Saturday’s fixture. Key players will include Josh Scott, who City supporters may remember for his rampant hat-trick in *that* pre-season friendly at Hayes & Yeading in 2007,
and Abu Agogo, who has made a decent start to the season, and is joint top scorer alongside Rhys Murphy with two goals.
Last season the Daggers seemed to get some luck in facing an out of form City side on both occasions – back in October the sides played out a turgid (in the first half at least) 1-1 draw. Medy Elito opened the scoring before half-time, then the home side should have been out of sight but for a penalty blazed over the bar before Jamie Cureton levelled things the other side of half-time. The return, during City’s awful run-in, saw the visitors snatch a 1-0 win with an early goal from Scott Doe after Kevin Amankwaah’s even earlier injury. That was only Dagenham & Redbridge’s third victory in this fixture, while City have been victorious on seven occasions with six draws.
Match Officials: http://www.exeweb.com/2013/09/05/match-officials-dagenham-redbridge-v-exeter-city/
Ticket information: ticket-details-for-dagenham-redbridge-and-northampton-town-away/
Exeweb’s Ground Guide: http://www.exeweb.com/2012/07/24/the-things-you-need-to-know-victoria-road/