Sports Mole previews Friday’s National League clash between Dagenham & Redbridge and Halifax Town, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Dagenham & Redbridge and Halifax Town have the chance to catapult themselves up the National League table when they meet on Friday night.
Both clubs have accumulated four points from their opening three fixtures, leaving them in 14th and 15th position respectively.
Match preview
© Imago
With Dagenham & Redbridge having not recorded back-to-back wins in the National League since November, supporters would have perhaps held fire before judging their opening-day victory.
A late goal was required to see off Wealdstone by a 2-1 scoreline and Ben Strevens‘s side have been unable to follow that success with another.
After a 1-1 draw at Rochdale, the Daggers made the much shorter trip to Woking and succumbed to a 1-0 defeat courtesy of a goal 10 minutes from time.
In all three match this campaign, strikes have been conceded with at least 71 minutes on the clock, something that Strevens must eradicate from their game.
On a more positive note, Dagenham & Redbridge have gone six National League fixtures without suffering defeat at Victoria Road.
As for Halifax, they are hoping to eventually build on their seventh-placed finish and playoff quarter-final from the 2023-24 season.
Although they started off with a 2-1 triumph over Barnet, they failed to take advantage of further home games against Aldershot Town and Gateshead.
Chris Millington‘s side suffered a 1-0 defeat versus the former before earning a morale-boosting 1-1 draw at home to Gateshead, another team who are expected to compete for promotion.
The Shaymen now go on their travels for the first time this season having ended the previous one with three wins and three defeats from their final six such encounters.
Dagenham & Redbridge National League form:
Halifax Town National League form:
Team News
Josh Umerah could get the nod down the centre of the Dagenham & Redbridge attack should Reece Grego-Cox not return to the side.
Sam Ling may also be preferred at left-back having dropped out last time out, but the remainder of the starting lineup could stay the same.
With a short turnaround, Millington must decide whether to introduce any fresh legs into his Halifax XI.
Aaron Cosgrave could be given an opportunity down the centre of the attack, while Owen Bray and Florent Hoti are options in central midfield.
Dagenham & Redbridge possible starting lineup:
Justham; Rendall, Kalambayi, Eastman, Ling; Hessenthaler; Pereira, N’Guessan, Rees, Hill; Umerah
Halifax Town possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Smith, Alimi-Adetoro, Senior; Oluwabori, Evans, Jenkins, Capello; Cook, Pugh; Cosgrave
We say: Dagenham & Redbridge 1-1 Halifax Town
With identical records through three games, can we realistically predict anything other than a draw? We have answered our own question, backing a low-scoring stalemate that will suit neither team.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.