Username
Password
Can City go top with a victory over Dagenham?
By Kate Jackson
August 31 2007
Despite a poor start to the season with the Imps conceding 8 goals in the first two games, a victory against Dagenham on Saturday could see us go top of the League 2 table. A win would also guarantee the Imps will have more points after 4 games than we had the same point during the pre-season, but City come up against a side looking for their first ever Football League win.

Last weekend's victory over Accrington Stanley means that the Imps unbelieveable sit 4th after sitting bottom of the entire Football League. In the 3rd week of the season there have currently been 3 different teams sitting at the bottom of the League including our opponents on Saturday, who have yet to win a single game in the Football League.

The division is currently still very tight with only 6 points between from bottom. City topped the division for one week last season when it was ended by Stockport with the Hatters beating City 2-0 at Edgeley Park just a week after City had beaten Swindon to summit League 2. That was the first tie since the 1997/8 season that the Imps the Imps were top of the division for around 2 months.

The difference between a win on Saturday and a defeat is huge, obviously a win could see the Imps go top but a defeat would almost see us move into the bottom half of the table.

City will go into the game with a full strength team following the return of Lee Beevers from injury last week. He was part of a the defence against Accrington that helped City keep their first clean sheet of the season, and the first in 6 competitive matches.

Marriott is virtually guaranteed to be in goal with Beevers, Brown, Moses and Ammo (not nessacerily in that order) forming the back line. Following his impressive impact on the way the team plays it would be a huge surprise if Jamie Hand doesn't start, partnered in midfield by Frecklington, N'Guessan and Dodds. Stallard and Forrester should form the front line.

It will be City's second ever visit to Dagenham and Redbridge, with the first coming in a friendly in 1992, the home side beating City 2-0. The only competitive meeting came in the 2000/1 FA Cup season when Dagenham benefited from a Matthew Ghent mistake in the final minute to progress to a 3rd round meeting against Charlton.

The Daggers have made a less than impressive start to their first ever season in the League. They started with a 1-0 defeat at Stockport before Luton progressed against them in the Carling Cup. A last minute Wycombe penalty prevented Dagenham from a first win before last weekend's 4-0 thumping at Chester City.

Dagenham have a few absenses with Paul Benson, John Nurse and David Rainford all missing out.

Kick off is at 3pm on Saturday afternoon.

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with: