The real challenge

The big question was: how strong Dagenham & Redbridge really were? Would they be able to repeat their fantastic displays from League Two on a higher level? League One was packed with teams that have much more to offer than most League Two sides. It would also be unwise to miss out on the fact that only a year ago the Daggers’ goal was to avoid relegation to the Conference. 

However, the team has changed a lot since then and Onoszko did a lot to strengthen his squad even more ahead of the first official match in League One. For the front Dag & Red signed pacey striker Michael Dickinson from Chesterfield, dynamic right forward Chris Burt from Brentford, left midfielder Chris Carruthers from Bristol Rovers and centre-right midfielder Mark Shaw from Walsall. The back four was boosted by the arrival of promising central defender James Krause from Bradford, powerful centre-back and midfielder Kyle May from Workington and right-back Chris Domingues from Swindon.   

Furthermore, Doherty’s knee injury caught a fortnight before the season’s opening game forced Onoszko to find a decent replacement for League Two’s best goalkeeper last season and the Pole paid Swindon £70k for Slovakian goalkeeper Peter Brezovac.

Onoszko was modest in arranging pre-season friendlies. His players faced non-league Belper and Alfreton in home games, which they both comfortably won 2:1 and 3:0, respectively. Brezovac made several reassuring saves in his debut against Alfreton, while Baidoo shone in the front in both matches. The team looked ready for their first match in League One, a home game against Leeds United.

Leeds, managed by Scotsman John Collins, certainly had a point to prove after they finished only 14^th last season. The Daggers had to watch out for striker Jermaine Beckford, who hit the net 54 times in his last two seasons.

 Dag & Red’s classic 4-4-2 saw Brezovac in the goal, Parinello, Albertsson, Krause and Goodwin in the back, Carruthers, Howells, Butcher and Burt in midfield and captain Strevens with Baidoo in the attack. Young goalie McMahon, Scragg, May, Graham and Dickinson sat on the bench.