DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE manager John Still is steeling himself for the hardest game of his Daggers managerial career, when they visit Cardiff City in the Carling Cup tonight. Cardiff are on top of the Championship after their opening day win over Scunthorpe

by MIKE SIMMONDS

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE manager John Still is steeling himself for the hardest game of his Daggers managerial career, when they visit Cardiff City in the Carling Cup tonight.

Cardiff are on top of the Championship after their opening day win over Scunthorpe United, and will start the match with Daggers as red hot favourites.

"It's as tough as game as we've ever had," admitted Still.

"But it's a great game for my players and a great game for supporters. Will we win, I don't know, but the experience my players will get from it will make us winners in the end."

The Bluebirds side, although missing players due to international call-ups, and the Daggers boss was particularly impressed with striker Michael Chopra, who netted twice on at the weekend.

"Chopra, he's a player," said Still.

"He signed for four million, but they've got top class players all over. They just missed out on the play-offs last year, but lets go and approach it as we usually do and see what we can do."

Striker Paul Benson also echoed his manager's call and doesn't want to be making up the numbers as Cardiff's brand spanking new stadium.

"We've got to make sure we don't go there overawed," warned Benson.

"We've got to make sure we go there and look to win, there is no point going there and seeing it as a day out.

"We have to get together and put a real performance in, we could get a little run going in the cup, its about time we got a run going in one of the cups, so why not that one."

Jon Nurse is out of the match after picking up an injury at Crewe on Saturday, but Still admitted there might be one or two alterations to the side tonight.

"Jon is definitely out, and I might make one or two changes beforehand, or during the game," he revealed

"It might help one or two of the younger ones to get a feel for what its like to play a game in a hostile environment, that may help them."

Can Daggers pull off an upset at Cardiff tonight? Email: mike.simmonds@archant.co.uk

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