With Argyle winning by four and Dagenham losing by five last week, perhaps it should have been obvious that this game would end goalless. In a clash that neither side could afford to lose, played in front of nearly 8000 people, Argyle would have left the pitch at full time wondering how on earth they had not won the match – they were dreadfully unlucky not to.
Argyle manager Carl Fletcher made two changes from the side that demolished Accrington last time out. Keeper Jake Cole was available for selection and replaced Romain Larrieu in goal while Robbie Williams replaced Onismor Bhasera who was away on international duty.
John Still made three changes to his Dagenham team from last week. Jonathon Bond who signed on loan from Watford in the week played in goal in place for the suspended Chris Lewington. Fellow loanee Ben Reeves replaced Medy Elito in midfield and Damien McCrory came in for Oluwafemi Ilesanmi at left-back.
It became evident early on that the Daggers had turned up to defend and planned to try and pick us off on the break. This was clear when their back four, in a rush to clear the ball as quick as possible smashed it against Argyle right back Paul Bignot, the defender ran on with the ball and squared a decent looking ball towards Nick Chadwick who could and should have done better. Sadly his shot sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
When Dagenham did break forward, they did not look threatening. Their clear focus on defence meant that when they did venture as far as the Argyle penalty area there was often nobody to meet a cross or get a good shot in. Brian Woodall looked to have got a cross into the danger zone, but with nobody there to meet it a potentially dangerous ball trickled almost apologetically out for a goal kick.
MacDonald, who had scored twice last week, was making a nuisance of himself this time out as well. Firstly only a last ditch tackle from Daggers captain Mark Arber denied the Scot a clear route to goal and then after holding off about three Dagenham players he teed up what should have been the simplest of finishes for Conor Hourihane. However the midfielder lost all composure and instead of finding the back of the net, found row M in the away end.
The Greens came out for the second half with their now custom attacking intent. The Dagenham defence backed off of Hourihane and allowed the Irishman a shot on goal, the keeper Bond was equal to it but had it been placed anywhere else he might have struggled to deal with it. If that gifted chance had not wound the keeper up enough, his defence allowing Robbie Williams to do exactly the same thing and shoot wide just minutes later will have made him red in the face.
With the game now petering out, Fletcher introduced Tsoumou for Luke Young and Daley for Ashley Hemmings, which almost immediately paid dividends. The Dagenham defence made a pitiful clearance and the ball fell to Luke Daley, whose shot from a tight angle hit the inside of the post and somehow stayed out. Within a minute Maxime Blanchard had a shot cleared off the line before Robbie Williams hit exactly the same post against with a rocket of a shot. It was not going to be Argyle’s day.
Had the players not bothered I would be incredibly disappointed with a 0-0 draw against what is truly a dire Dagenham & Redbridge side, but they all gave 100% today and were bitterly unlucky to win the game. As it stands, Argyle are four games unbeaten with three clean sheets in a row and with the Greens playing fellow strugglers Macclesfield on Tuesday, we have another chance to continue the great escape. 3 points and another clean sheet please Fletcher!
By Plymouth Argyle blogger Sam Barker
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