Skipper admits Dagenham & Redbridge took defeat at Mansfield Town hard

Joss Labadie says Dagenham & Redbridge’s 3-2 loss away to Mansfield Town was difficult to take having been more than a match for their promotion-chasing opponents throughout on Saturday.

Daggers held the lead at the end of an even first half after Oliver Hawkins struck, but goals from Matty Blair and Adi Yussuf turned the game around for the Stags inside the first 22 minutes of the second half.

Jamie Cureton had a chance to level things up once more seven minutes from time, but he put his penalty wide before Matt Green sealed victory for Mansfield a minute later.

Cureton was able to get himself on the scoresheet with a typical poacher’s effort, but time ran out on Daggers’ bid to get something from the game, leaving Labadie and his team mates despondent.

“It’s just disappointing, firstly to go a goal up and then miss a penalty,” said the skipper. “We had another great chance with Ashley Chambers at the end.

“It’s our fault again defensively how we conceded the last one, but we have to take the positives.”

The result means Daggers stay six points adrift of York City who represent safety, but that could all change with both they and fellow relegation candidates Yeovil, who are five points clear in 23rd, both in midweek action.

It was also a five defeat in their last six league games, a run that has seen the east Londoners plummet to the foot of the entire Football League.

And while Labadie admits the recent run has been difficult for the playing squad, he knows the race to survive is far from over and the team must continue to battle.

“We’ve had some deflating results of late and it is hard, but we’re all sticking together,” he added.

“We’re trying to get out of the situation we’re in and the boys won’t give the fight up. Barring the lapses in concentration, it wasn’t a bad performance at Mansfield.”