Dagger through the heart...?

Rovers returned to winning ways yesterday afternoon when they saw off struggling Dagenham & Redbridge at The Memorial Stadium. This would have been a League One clash last season but both sides are now firmly in the lower reaches of League Two, albeit with plenty of time to turn things around and shoot up the table.

The game saw a welcome return to 4-4-2, with proper wingers used and players played in their right positions (on the whole!). Both Joe Anyinsah and Mustapha Carayol came in to fill the wide berths and showed what they are all about. Neither will think they played at their very best, but it was encouraging to see them return to the team and play well. Dagenham have had a torrid time of it lately but never once looked like turning things around against us, in fact, I'd go as far as to say they were probably the worst team I've seen us play at The Mem - they were that poor. It's testament to the nature of the club that gaffer John Still is still in charge there as, if it was any other club in this division, he'd be gone. To be fair, if he was relieved of his duties, you could understand the reasoning behind their chairman's decision, before yesterday they had lost 9 of their last 10 league games. Wow.

The game was never destined to be a blockbuster, but it was clear from the start that Dagenham were there for the taking and, if we were up for it, there were plenty of goals in it for us. To the lads' credit, we did try and although we were nowhere near the levels of performance we've seen at times this season, we were playing okay. The closest we came in the first half was when a header across goal bounced around 2 yards out, and somehow Matt Harrold fired in to the ground when he looked destined to score, giving their keeper and defender enough time to put their bodies on the line and block his attempted shot. Matt Gill also missed a decent opportunity when Scott McGleish hooked across goal, but he was unable to get a decent connection on the ball, allowing the Daggers defence to clear frantically.

Disappointed that we weren't in front, Rovers came out for the second half in determined mood and it didn't take long for the breakthrough to come. A corner was played in by Craig Stanley, Cian Bolger headed it towards the far post, where it was again headed across the face of goal and there was Anyinsah who fired home to give us the lead. From this point, there was only ever going to be one winner as Dagenham had showed no sign whatsoever of venturing in to our box, let alone netting a goal of their own, and it didn't take long for Harrold to try another attempt on their goal. The ball was crossed in by the impressive Stanley towards Harrold who nodded towards goal, but unfortunately for the former Shrewsbury man, the ball came back off the post and to Dagenham safety.

Surprisingly, Dagenham did make one foray in to the Rovers penalty area and when it looked for all the world that Brian Woodall was going to fire towards goal from 10 yards out, full-back Danny Woodards raced back to sensationally slide the ball away for a corner. It received a standing ovation from all sides of the ground and it truly was a fantastic challenge from the defender, who seems to be winning over some of the fans who doubted his credibility for signing for us when he was supposedly a highly rated League One defender. Rovers continued to push for another goal and finally, in the 88th minute, they were handed the opportunity to double their lead. Harrold was pulled down in the penalty box and the referee Mr Heywood had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Harrold himself picked up the ball to take the spot-kick and I don't think I was alone in fearing the striker may miss giving the efforts he had scuffed earlier in the game! Substitute Scott Rendell clearly wanted to take it to register his first Gas goal, but Harrold stepped up to fire home and seal victory for Rovers.

It's a good win which should hopefully boost confidence and morale throughout the squad as we head in to an away trip to Accrington Stanley next weekend.

Gaffer Paul Buckle is set to tell his side of the Stuart Campbell saga that has dominated this week tomorrow, so that will be interesting to hear. It's not something I've touched on in this blog, but I will explain all later in the week... I have no idea how it's going to end though.

Credit to the 70 Dagenham fans who made the trip yesterday, they didn't support their team very vociferously (albeit it's hard when there's less than a hundred of you!), but they enjoyed their day and took part in the half-time 'Kick Racism Out of Football' activities that were going on around the ground.

The FA Cup first round draw took place at Wembley today and avoiding our usual cup rivals AFC Bournemouth, who we draw almost every season in every competition, Rovers were given a home tie against one of Kidderminster Harriers and Corby Town, who replay on Wednesday evening following a goalless draw yesterday. Either way it sees us take on non-league opposition at the Mem, with both sides sure to bring a decent following. They will sense blood and a passage in to the second round, but hopefully Rovers can prevail comfortably! Although, we all said that last season when drawn away to Conference side Darlington...