Daggers boss feels forwards are getting service needed ahead of trip to the Heed

Dagenham & Redbridge manager John Still has demanded more creativity from his side at Gateshead in the National League on Saturday as they bid to cure their stuttering form.

Since the turn of the year, Daggers have won six out of their eight league games, but that masks their recent form.

The Essex club’s last three league games have all been at home against sides outside the top ten, yet they have lost two of those, both against relegation-threatened clubs.

Even in the defeats, Daggers still had plenty of the ball, but Still knows it is quality, rather than quality, that leads to victories.

“I counted with about 25 minutes to go against Maidstone United that seven out of times when we had the ball in a dangerous area, we made the wrong choice,” he said.

“You have to give forwards a chance to score with the right cross or pass, but we never did.

“Even when we did make the right choice, the first touch was poor and the chance was gone.

“You might say we have to score more goals, but you have to provide people with more opportunities and we didn’t do that against Maidstone.”

March looks set to be an important month for Daggers as in addition to facing Gateshead, they also tackle Barrow, Forest Green Rovers and Aldershot Town, all of whom are in the play-off race.

Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Maidstone was hardly ideal preparation for such an important run of fixtures.

But Still is confident his side will get back on the horse this weekend when they make the long trip north to the Gateshead International Stadium.

“This is football, there are highs and lows and I’ve been in this game too many years to mention, 40 I think, and I know you can’t be affected by a game, you’re affected by a season,” he added.

“The season has told us that we are second in this league, which is unbelievable given what we hoped for at the start of the season.

“I have to accept that sometimes people are not going to play well, which is OK, but it’s about how you respond to that and we have to respond to that on Saturday.”