Daggers lack cash to replace leading scorer
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE manager John Still has admitted he won t be able to replace striker Paul Benson in the loan window, after the top scorer underwent an operation on his cartilage on Monday, writes MIKE SIMMONDS. Benson, who has hit 16 goals in all comp
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE manager John Still has admitted he won't be able to replace striker Paul Benson in the loan window, after the top scorer underwent an operation on his cartilage on Monday, writes MIKE SIMMONDS.
Benson, who has hit 16 goals in all competitions this season, will be out for up to two months, and his absence is a devastating blow in Daggers promotion push.
With the transfer window now shut, clubs can still loan players until March 26, but that isn't something Still can afford to look into.
Financially
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"Financially, I won't be able to do anything," he revealed.
"Paul had his operation on Monday, and we are looking at him being out for six to eight weeks now."
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In Benson's absence, Daggers beat Luton on Saturday, but slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday night.
Although the result dropped the Victoria Road side down to ninth in League Two, three points off a play-off place, Still felt his side had done enough to take something from the game.
"We know that Wycombe are a strong side defensively, they don't concede many and haven't done so all season," he said.
"They got some great blocks in, so all credit to them, but everyone was fantastic. We played some good, quality football with a high tempo, and on another day it could have gone for us.
"Sometimes games don't go for you, there's no rhyme or reason for it, but we can't worry about it.
"A defeat is a defeat, we have to take it on the chin and move to the next one."
Daggers face another two games next week with a trip to Accrington Stanley on Saturday, followed by a home match against Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
The fixture at Accrington will represent a milestone for veteran goalkeeper Tony Roberts, as it will be his 400th game in a Daggers shirt, just 62 behind the club's record appearance holder, Jason Broom.
"What can you say about Tony? It's fantastic," said Still,
"Four hundred appearances for one club is a phenomenal achievement and he's still playing well.
"The games against Accrington and Bournemouth will be tough, but I've got no fears about them and we've got to keep digging in and working hard.
