Doug’s doing the spade work!

IT wasn t for the want of trying that Daggers on-loan midfielder Doug Loft failed to get on the scoresheet against Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday night, writes MIKE SIMMONDS. Loft, (pictured right), who has signed until the end of the season from League On

IT wasn't for the want of trying that Daggers' on-loan midfielder Doug Loft failed to get on the scoresheet against Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday night, writes MIKE SIMMONDS.

Loft, (pictured right), who has signed until the end of the season from League One side Brighton, had one scorching goalbound volley blocked, before another header was kept out by Chairboys keeper Jamie Young.

Add to the mix a number of bone-crunching challenges in midfield, and it was a good evening's work for the 22-year-old.

"I thought we played really well and deserved the victory," he said afterwards.

"Their holding midfielder kept getting in my way when I was trying to shoot, which was quite annoying!"

With every fixture, Loft is adapting to the Daggers way of playing, and also gaining match fitness, as he has spent most of this season sitting on the bench at the Withdean Stadium.

He showed plenty of signs of improvement from Saturday's display against Luton Town and is confident that will continue with every appearance he makes.

"The pace of the game is a lot quicker here than I've been used to," he said.

"At Brighton, we try to get the ball down and pass it a bit more in our own half, we don't do that here.

"I think we try to get the ball forward quickly and we do it well.

"The tempo of the game is very high and I think it works well for the way we play."

Boss John Still was also delighted with the impact of his new signing, who will be out of contract with the Seagulls at the end of the season.

"Doug ran out of steam towards the end, but his performance in the first half was absolutely outstanding," said the manager.

"His tackling and movement was first class.