The Opposition View: Dagenham & Redbridge

Last updated : 10 April 2014 By Jim Bonner

Six points from the play-offs with five games to go. Can Dagenham still win promotion this season? And if they don't, how happy will you be at the end of it?

I think realistically the answer now is no, we won't gain promotion this season. While the gap to the play-offs is still both manageable and achievable, we'd have to go on our best winning run for many a year, something that most supporters simply don't see as viable. In the increasingly likely event that we don't make it, I'd still consider our season a raging success.

At the start of the campaign many, including myself, predicted us to finish rock bottom and be relegated back to the Conference. To defy all expectations as we have done and be complaining of a missed promotion push is evidence of what a great season we've had.

Obviously to miss out on the play-offs in the manner we have done is frustrating, but it's something we'll attempt to build upon next season - after avoiding relegation once again first of course! 

Before the Boxing Day day fixture you named Zavon Hines and Rhys Murphy as your two best performers so far this season. Has this still been the case or have others stepped up to the plate?

Unfortunately we've had to deal without both Zavon and Rhys since mid-February when the pair both sustained injuries at near enough the same time. And despite the initial angst, we've coped relatively well, with an eight game unbeaten run only recently ended at Wycombe last week.

Our winger Medy Elito has really stepped up as a top performer, while our defence has remained consistent bar last weekend's horror show from Scott Doe who will now miss Saturday's game through suspension. 

You also named the Daggers' inability to defend long balls and set-pieces as their main weakness. Has this changed and are there other weaknesses that Pompey could exploit on Saturday?

Although it has subsided as a serious weakness, I feel that we remain susceptible to set-pieces. Our biggest cause for concern at the weekend however will likely be a new defensive partnership, with youngster Ian Gayle set to step in alongside Brian Saah in place of the suspended Scott Doe.

Gayle made his Football League debut as a sub last weekend and performed well, but with his full league debut set to come against Pompey on Saturday, there is obviously a degree of worry as to whether he's ready to make the step up.  

Are there any players in the current Portsmouth squad that give you cause for concern?

I think our main concern will be how galvanised your squad seems following the appointment of Andy Awford. Player wise, Wes Fogden always seems to look pretty good on the Football League Show, while Ryan Taylor scored two against us in the play-off final four years ago and will likely provide a threat.  

What type of match can we expect to see and how confident are you of winning?

In-keeping with the recent theme at Victoria Road, I think we'll see a very close match with one goal either way deciding the three points. My main fear is that we'll replay the fixture at Fratton Park on Boxing Day where we froze and handed you the win with easily one of our most disappointing performances this season.

Based on that and the recent scrappy nature of our home games where we've been somewhat goal-shy, I'm sadly going to plump for a Portsmouth win!

This will be Pompey's first ever trip to Victoria Road so where are the places of interest for our supporters around the ground?

For any Pompey fan getting down to the ground early, make sure you have a drink in the Daggers clubhouse rather than any of the surrounding pubs.

Our clubhouse charges 50p entry and is welcoming to away fans, although make sure you're allowed in as we don't often get over 1,500 away supporters come down! Elsewhere, the Brook Pie & Mash shop is about a five minute walk from the ground if you fancy something traditional to eat, otherwise there's not much else to see around Dagenham!

Predict the outcome of the game.

A scrappy contest with Portsmouth edging it late in the second half with a 1-0 win.