Next Up: Dagenham and Redbridge at Home

Another game, another heartbreaking defeat in a match where City deserved at least a point (on second half showing anyway), and the need for City’s fortunes to change becomes ever more prescient as Paul Tisdale’s side has slipped to 19th in the table. With that in mind, City welcome Dagenham & Redbridge to the Park on Saturday hoping to register that elusive first home victory since October. Tisdale’s selection for Saturday may be influenced by the tired legs in the youngsters after their epic extra time defeat to Burnley on Tuesday night, especially as City face another Tuesday night match next week, so John O’Flynn may keep his place up front at the expense of Tom Nichols, while Gill and Oakley may hook up again in midfield with Matt Grimes and David Wheeler likely to feature from the bench.

Such is the tightness of the division that while Dagenham & Redbridge lie five places above City going into Saturday’s fixture, a home win will see City go back above the Daggers. Wayne Burnett, having taken over from the long serving John Still in the latter part of last season, has continued Still’s admirable work in keeping the East London side comfortably away from the relegation zone on a tight budget. The chief source of goals this season has been Rhys Murphy with 13, ably assisted by Zavon Hines and Abu Ogogo with eight each. One familiar face in the line up will be Lawson D’Ath, who spent the latter part of last season on loan with City and has one (spectacular) goal in 13 appearances so far on loan at the Daggers.

Back in September the sides played out a 1-1 draw – Josh Scott opened the scoring for the hosts before Sam Parkin equalised late on for City. This fixture last season saw the Daggers record their first ever victory at the Park – Scott Doe scored after five minutes and they held on for a 1-0 win. City have a convincing overall head-to-head lead in league fixtures however, with 7 wins to the Daggers’ 2 (6 draws).

Match Officials: http://www.exeweb.com/2014/03/04/match-officials-dagenham-and-redbridge-at-home-2/