Dagenham & Redbridge fall to heavy home defeat against title hopefuls Wrexham

Daggers had won the corresponding fixture last season by a 3-0 margin in May and initially named the same starting line-up from Saturday’s 2-1 home win over York City.

But they were forced into a late change when Junior Morias withdrew with a knock to be replaced by Jay Bird and after a slight delay to kick-off due to a problem with one of the goal nets, they fell behind after just six minutes as Ollie Palmer struck.

Elliot Lee fired high and wide from distance as the visitors continued to dominate, but Bird then had a great chance to level on 12 minutes when picked out by Inij Effiong, only to put his effort wide.

The hosts had to make a second change on the quarter-hour mark as Dean Rance made way for George Saunders, but saw Effiong force Rob Lainton into a save from range soon after.

There was to be no come-from-behind triumph as the one produced at table-topping Notts County only 10 days earlier, though, as after skipper Matt Robinson was booked midway through the half, Daggers fell further behind six minutes before the break when Jordan Tunnicliffe netted Wrexham’s second from a corner.

And it got worse just three minutes after the restart as Palmer picked up his second of the night to make it 3-0 to the delight of the travelling Wrexham fans.

Omar Mussa replaced Angelo Balanta on the hour, but Daggers fell further behind on 70 minutes as Jacob Mendy netted.

And after Myles Weston made way for Sydney Ibie, the home side saw James Jones go close to a fifth when hitting a post on 74 minutes.

Daggers avoided any further damage in the closing stages, but having been left six points off the play-off places in 11th, they now find themselves with an 11-day break before they welcome Oldham Athletic to Victoria Road.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Justham, Hare, Rance (Saunders 16), Onariase, Effiong, Sagaf, Balanta (Mussa 60), Weston (Ibie 72), Robinson, Ling, Bird. Unused subs: Johnson, Janneh.