DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE manager John Still felt Port Vale paid his side a compliment on Saturday during their 1-1 draw at Victoria Road.

by MIKE SIMMONDS

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE manager John Still felt Port Vale paid his side a compliment on Saturday during their 1-1 draw at Victoria Road.

The visitors started with a 3-4-3 formation which stopped Daggers playing their usual high-tempo attacking game in the first half, as Vale also took the lead though Louis Dodds.

But Still had words with his troops during the interval and changed things around, allowing substitute Josh Scott to snatch a point late in the day.

"Their formation in the first half was 3-4-3, which meant they pushed tight up on our full backs and stopped them playing the ball forward," said the boss.

"I think it is a complement that Port Vale have come here and tried to do a job on us, and I told the players that afterwards.

"We didn't get going in the first half, maybe we could have done a bit better and tried to come inside to create some space, but we're still learning.

"We went slightly lop-sided in the second half, pushed Danny Green right up and then crossed from deeper on the left flank. It worked for us and the players will learn from that because other teams might try to do the same against us."

Still made the unusual decision to throw on all three of his substitutes, a move the manager doesn't often do, but Scott, Graeme Montgomery and Harlee Dean all played their part.

Despite missing an easy chance, Scott popped up with the late leveller, while Montgomery's excellent delivery from the left will surely push him nearer towards a starting berth.

"'Monty' is a good player and had heard what we were saying on the bench about crossing from deep, so it made it easier when he came on," said Still.

"It was touch and go whether we would start with Josh, but he hasn't had many minutes on the pitch recently.

"He missed a chance, but showed great determination to make the run once again to get on the end of his goal.

"With Harlee, I saw the amount of crosses we were getting into the box, and as he's a big lad, I thought it was worth throwing him on.

"He should have scored straight away, but it's great that I can throw these youngsters on now, whereas in the past, I might not have been able to."

If you would like to comment on this story, email: mike.simmonds@archant.co.uk

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