BT Cameras Roll! Will Daggers Have Edge Over Bromley Again?

By Sam Elliott

If it is true that games involving teams who are in good form really are the must-see matches then BT Sport is the place to be tonight.

Just 16 miles separate Dagenham and Bromley but those coming up the A102 towards the East End sometimes wished they hadn’t bothered.

Neil Smith’s side are the only club left in the National League yet to taste defeat, but loss is something they know all about where they’re heading later on.

The ruthless Daggers have won 3-0, pictured, and 5-1 in the past two seasons at the Chigwell Construction Stadium - talk about your unwelcoming hosts!

But things have changed and although they’re enduring a sticky start, Dagenham haven’t lost in their last four matches. Now after scoring 11 and letting in 13, they are playing the role of the entertainers.

Good news for everyone then - tonight’s match has the makings of a mouthwatering one and both bosses think we could see goals.

“I’m just delighted to still be unbeaten,” purred Bromley boss Smith.

“We’ve just finished August and we’re eight games in with no losses and sitting third in the table. I don’t think many people had us in that bracket before the start of the season.

“It’s going to be hard, but we go again on Wednesday for another difficult game - but then they all are in this division.

“The boys are showing me grit and determination,” he told the club’s video player. “Every game I’m seeing something different from them that I didn’t know I could have from them.

“We didn’t start well against AFC Fylde on Saturday but there’s a belief in there, they don’t give up.I think the boys showed some real quality and game management, but we have got to be better in certain areas.

“Being live on television is great but our sole focus is on getting a win. They’ve always been a bit of a difficult team for us at their ground, so we’ve got to make sure we’re on our full metal and the boys are 100 per cent.”

Opposite number Peter Taylor knows the score.

Former Dagenham striker Michael Cheek was a firm favourite at Victoria Road but he will be all too aware his side’s defence can’t be too welcoming on Wednesday night.

“We would like to continue our unbeaten run,” Taylor said. “We know it’s going to be a big test because Bromley have gone for a better squad this year.

“They are going to be a real handful, there’s no doubt about that.

“We all know Michael Cheek is a Bromley player now, he is a fantastic goalscorer – it’s going to be a good game. It’s a live match and it’s up to the boys to increase this unbeaten run.”

Where next?

National League Clubs Donate £15,000 to the JE3 Foundation The National League is delighted to confirm a cheque of £15,000 will be presented to the Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation before tonight’s televised match on BT Sport at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.
LV Bet Preview: The Matchday Nine Stat Pack Each gameweek, The National League's official betting partner LV Bet provides the lowdown of the key matches across the Vanarama National League. Find out all you need to know ahead of Matchday Nine.

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