Dorking Wandering
The Dorking Wanderers FC Fans Forum
A third straight game at Meadowbank as we face recently relegated Dagenham & Redbridge this weekend. The Daggers saw new investment over the Summer and even signed former England striker Andy Carroll although he is suspended for this Saturday. Dagenham have had a tough start to the season and currently sit in 21st place after picking up just a single win and 6 points.
Marc announced in his update that McManus is 3-4 weeks away from a return but Francomb should be back in 10 days. Harrison Foulkes remains out as well.
Predictions
Dorking 2-2 Dagenham (Prior, Carter)
1,492 att.
Phillips
Camp Storey Vincent
Muitt Taylor Gallagher Lewis
Carter
Prior Rutherford
Subs: Craig, Norville-Williams, Annesley, Pybus, Moore, Hebert, McShane
Expecting a tough game as thier poor form can't continue forever
Dorking (2) 3 Dagenham & R (2) 3 Carter, Rutherford (2)
1,501 (130 from East London)
Dagenham's defence is truly shocking, half of them did not look like they cared when they were smashed to bits in their last loss.
Going for a 4-1 win for Dorking here with goals from Alfie x3 and Vincent x1.
Good opportunity in this one to improve the goal difference, taking advantage of a demoralised team about to sack their manager.
Expecting a tough game as thier poor form can't continue forever
Dorking (2) 3 Dagenham & R (2) 3 Carter, Rutherford (2)
1,501 (130 from East London)
I agree, I expect a tough game but high scoring. I am going for 2-2 like Tom (Muitt and Rutherford). Attendance 1427, 209 away fans.
I’d like to see Pybus in for Gallagher ideally, even if he doesn’t do 90. And hope Lewis starts - he looked really up for it last week and his delivery is superb.
3-2 win. Carter, Lewis and Prior
Expecting today to be a tricky game, 2-1 win with goals from Rutherford and Lewis
We were much the better team today, we just couldn't beat their determined defence. Their keeper also made a couple of good saves.
Got score wrong but was spot on with attendance!
Yeah, after last week’s fun this was as dull a game as I can remember for a while. First half was decent with some good chances missed, but second half I can only remember one save from their keeper. Too predictable going down the wings the whole team - need to offer more through the middle when plan A doesn’t work.
A pity Andy Carroll didn’t play - would have livened it up a bit I’m sure. Without him, they might struggle this season
Said at HT it was either going to be 0-0 or a loss like the Hampton game. Just had that feel. Dagenham were poor and time wasted a lot.
Decent crowd and good away following although they were very quiet. Heard there was a bit of trouble after with their fans as they left the ground, frustrations aimed at their coaching staff
Did more than enough to win the game against a poor Dagenham side, however the lack of goals this season is a bit of a concern. We only failed to score in 4 league matches last season - Torquay x 2, Truro at home, Tonbridge away - and we have already matched that total this season just 9 games in...
Really feels like we are a striker/winger short at the moment as top teams would have comfotably beaten than Daggers side. I worry that when we go play some of the better sides in this division that we may get found out a bit.
Hoping that the Camp and Carter injuries aren't too bad as they would be huge losses for the FA Cup this weekend and a very difficult October.
Stats:
Possession: Dorking 64% - 36% Dagenham
Shots (OT): Dorking 12 (4) - 5 (0) Dagenham
xG: Dorking 1.76 - 0.35 Dagenham
Top Performer (Dorking): Dan Gallagher [7.2]
Tom, if you could put your finger on the main reason for the games where we haven't scored, what would you put it down to? Is the main issue that teams come to park the bus and stop us playing? Because Prior and Rutherford are still both good at scoring.
Or is it that the service to them is lacking in some way?
I don't think there is any need to feel alarmed, and I believe the squad is certainly good enough for a top 5 finish this season (we are in touching distance of third) and at some point it will all click and invariably the team will go on a very good run at some point.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
@dorking-eagle I think it purely comes down to depth. This really hurts us late in matches as we just don't have options off the bench and as a result, we've still only scored 2 goals in the last 15 mins of matches this season. Seems to be a constant theme this season that we dominate the first half and then drop off in the second and if we don't score first half then we struggle to win.
Last season we had Rhys Murphy and Alexandrou off the bench, this year we don't have any striker on the bench. Last season we had wide options of Muitt, Briggs, Bowerman, B.Taylor, Randall and this year we have just Muitt, Lewis and Hebert. I appreciate that Norville-Williams being injured has tied down Vincent a bit but then we should have had a replacement LCB.
Even in midfield last season, we had the likes of Jack Young and Morgan Williams to provide relief for Carter, etc but we don't have that either this year. Brooking was also a great rotation with Camp and was something we clearly missed against Dagenham.
I feel like we are an injury to one or two of Rutherford/Prior/Muitt away from real trouble...
