A tough start

Pitiful looks and sneers welcomed the public declaration of Dagenham & Redbridge’s new manager Mac Onoszko that he would finish the 2006/2007 season in the upper part of the table, reach the playoffs in the second and win promotion to League One in his third season at the club’s helm. With no cash to spend on signings that could fill the gaps in its line-up, the just-promoted Daggers looked like poor cousins of established teams such as Bradford or Notts County and staying clear of relegation seemed to have been enough of a challenge. 

Nonetheless even critics of the ambitious Pole had to admit his initial steps were promising as out of the first eight league matches the team won six that included valuable away victories at Peterborough and Chester. In the League Cup, however, Queens Park Rangers were too strong and the Daggers lost 0:2 at home, but not without a fight.

Dag & Red played a slightly converted 4-4-2 formation. Upfront Onoszko built the strength of his eleven on classy striker Ben Strevens and promising youngster Shabazz Baidoo, supported from right midfield by versatile forward Richard Graham. The first games of the season showed the team lacked proper wingers, which made it hard for the Daggers to make the most of their 4-4-2 line-up, though some impact at the sidelines was provided by Sylvain Meslien, left-back loaned out from Swansea, and right-back Shaun Goodwin. Central midfield was the domain of skilled Peter Gain and rather lacklustre Glen Southam. Jonathan Uddin, whom Onoszko had viewed as a leader for Dag & Reds’ defence, failed to provide what was expected from him, but support came from 18-year old Jonathan Scragg, signed pre-season for free, and his peer Danny Foster. The goal was guarded by 37-year-old Welshman Tony Roberts, who was also selected as the team’s captain.

The initial euphoria could not last forever though. In November Dag & Red suffered two consecutive defeats at Victoria Road with one being a painful 0:4 thrashing from Mansfield in the first round of the FA Cup. In December Onoszko’s team was defeated four times in a row after injuries brutally exposed lack of depth in defence and midfield. 

Some signs of recovery started to appear in January, but the Daggers never got near the quality they had showed in the early stages of the season and eventually finished 14th, below Onoszko’s target for his first year as manager. The failure to deliver on the promise did not rattle faith in the Pole among supporters, but management has started to fear relegation during the team’s second season above Conference level.