FAN VIEW: Daggers lack cutting edge in disappointing week

The trip to Oxford on Saturday left supporters and players alike frustrated that, after a rather dominant second-half display, there was still no breakthrough and Ben Strevens’ men had to share the points.

This was in spite of a superb defensive display where Nik Tavares continued his fine form and his new defensive partner, Aidan Francis-Clarke, impressed on his full debut. 

However, the inability to break through the opposition defence through a lack of any real quality in the final third denied the Daggers all three points. 

It was always going to be an issue heading into the season with a lack of recognised strikers in the attacking department, and the onus was on Charley Kendall this week who – despite his best efforts – was unable to find the back of the net. 

It wasn’t as though Kendall played badly in Oxford, or at home to Bromley three days later, but he seems to need a striking partner to play off if his full potential is to be reached. 

Hopefully that partnership is discovered before too long, and possibly in the return of Inih Effiong to the Daggers attack. Perhaps the most wholesome moment of the week was seeing him return to the Victoria Road turf for training before the Bromley clash. 

Dagenham did miss Effiong – or someone who offered something different in the final third – as they slipped to a narrow defeat to Bromley in a rather evenly-matched contest. 

Ryan Hill was kept rather quiet on the wing and any other attempts to fashion a chance didn’t really do enough to break the Ravens’ back line. 

Strevens also alluded to injuries as a reason for being unable to produce a result, but questions about whether the likes of Effiong, Myles Weston and Tom Eastman would solve those issues remain large – is there reason to enter the market to further bolster the attacking threat?

There is an opportunity to finish September strong, starting this Saturday in front of the home crowd, with Hartlepool the visitors. Pools are winless in three themselves, with the latest result a 2-2 draw with Altrincham, and will be looking to rediscover their early season form. 

Then it is to Halifax on Tuesday, another tough test on the road but the Shaymen are also a side struggling for form at the minute so the opportunity is there to take all three points. 

However this season has already proven how close the teams in this league are in terms of quality, so they are both sure to be good challenges for Strevens’ men. 

Hopefully the return of Weston from international duty this week can add greater creativity and an extra dimension to the Daggers front line and the hosts can halt the winless run with a victory on Saturday. 

Until next week, Come On You Daggers!