Dagenham & Redbridge boss Still backs boys to get right result at U’s after two-week break

Dagenham & Redbridge boss John Still hopes his knowledge of having beaten Cambridge United once this season will be of use at the Abbey Stadium this weekend.

Still has previously passed one test at the U’s this campaign when in charge of Luton Town, overseeing a 3-1 success in September.

Since then, Cambridge have changed their boss, replacing Richard Money with Shaun Derry, but the Daggers manager says he is still well educated in how to guide his team to a victory.

“Cambridge are a strong, organised side. They’ve changed managers since I played them with Luton, but they still looked like that when I saw them at Dagenham as an observer,” said Still.

“We have to make sure we compete because that is the only way we can get points. It will be physical and a tough test, but that’s what this league is.

“I’ve told the players it’s about looking forward, we can’t think about what’s happened before. We can only control what we can, but we have made a good start since I’ve joined.”

The two sides met on Boxing Day, with the U’s winning 3-0 at Victoria Road, but Dagenham look likely to field a much-changed side this weekend, before they host Wycombe on Tuesday.

Dominc Hyam became the club’s sixth and final addition of the transfer window on Monday, joining Oliver Muldoon, Joe Worrall, Harry Hickford, Oliver Hawkins and Luke Guttridge.

Only Hawkins and Guttridge signed permanent deals and Still revealed he would have liked a few more.

“I’m not a big lover of loan deals, but if the permanent deals aren’t there, there is not a lot you can do,” he added.

“When I came in, we had lost two centre-backs in Ayo Obileye and Josh Pask whose loans ended and the only one left was Clevid Dikamona, who’s not used to English football.

“We were playing three centre-backs when we didn’t even have that at the club. We were woefully short in that area, so I’m pleased now that if we have an injury it doesn’t blow everything.”