Fleetwood Town carry a proud away record to Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday and will be hoping to come back strongly after Tuesday’s disappointing defeat to Accrington Stanley under the Highbury fl
By David MitchellFleetwood Town carry a proud away record to Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday and will be hoping to come back strongly after Tuesday’s disappointing defeat to Accrington Stanley under the Highbury floodlights.
Since losing to Bradford City three months ago, Town have claimed four wins and four draws on the road. With just six goals conceded Micky Mellon’s side have the best defensive record in the npower League 2. Two hundred and seventy miles separate Fleetwood and East London so it is not surprising that Saturday’s game is the first between the sides.
Despite their midweek reversal, Town remain fourth in the division but with just four points separating nine clubs from Cheltenham in third place down to Rotherham it is important that Town keep their momentum going.
“It’s another long trip and a difficult game but one we are looking forward to. It’s certainly going to be a challenge against a strong and athletic Dagenham side.”
With injuries still affecting a number of strikers, Mellon has recalled Alex Titchiner from Blue Square Bet North side FC Halifax Town. Titchiner scored a hat trick for the Shaymen last weekend.
“It was important to bring him back because of the striker situation. Young Alex has been doing well over at Halifax and scoring goals. If the opportunity comes up then we won’t hesitate using him.”
It’s not just injury but illness has now taken grip of the Town camp.
“The illness will just provide even more opportunities for some players to show us what they have got to offer. As long as we have 11 players on the pitch and fill the bench then we should be ok.
The Daggers lie 16th with a game in hand on most clubs. It has been ‘a season of two halves’ so far for John Still’s men. The first eight games yielded just four points but they have rallied since then to take a further eighteen. There has been improved home form with three wins and two draws in the last five games at Victoria Road. The last result was the most impressive, a 5-0 victory over Rotherham four days after the Millers had drawn 1-1 at Highbury. Following a 3-2 defeat at Burton last Saturday, Dagenham have had a week’s break.
Leading scorer, Dwight Gayle, has just signed on loan for Championship side Peterborough United. With a goal against Burton and two against Rotherham, the striker’s current form will be missed. Young Blackpool defender, Jake Caprice, is currently at the club on a one-month loan deal but is yet to make a senior appearance.
Also in on a one-month loan is AFC Bournemouth attacking midfielder Josh Wakefield, who signed on Thursday ahead of the 5 p.m. deadline.
This is Dagenham and Redbridge’s sixth season in the Football League, one of which was spent in League One. After being formed 20 years ago, the club spent time in the Conference and Isthmian Premier Leagues before promotion as Conference champions in 2007. The traditional colours of red and blue represent Redbridge Forest and Dagenham, the two clubs whose merger lead to the club’s formation.
