Should MM change the line-up for Saturday? I would not change the defence but I would be tempted to start Griffith in midfield as it is likely to be a physical contest. I would also start Mangan with Collins up front and go with Weso if he is fit. I hope Woods is not too knackered after his display on Tuesday as we need him - he is really starting to dictate the play in midfield.
I think Lawrence should start with Mangan and Collins up front. Weso to come on for whoever later in the game. No problem with Griffiths either. Some of the players must be aching after Tuesday s event.
I would start with Lawrence. do hope all our heroes are fit. Chelsea programmes already for sale on EBAY £5.75 including team sheet.
It is a measure of how far we have come from last year that there are so many possible starting combinations. I am not so sure about Lawrence starting away games from what I have seen from him so far but he would certainly be useful coming off the bench if we are chasing the game.
A win is needed to sort out the away taboo that is hanging around at the moment. This will also help home fans increase in number after they attended the Chelsea game.
Phew - I will need to have a pacemaker fitted if I see any more games like that. Dagenham came out of the blocks fast, bypassed our midfield and hit long balls into the corners to exploit the space behind the wing-backs. Their front man Yussuf gave Grandison and Knight-Percival a really uncomfortable time with his pace and strength but it did not help that the ref was a real homer and would not even give us a free-kick when Woods was literally mugged right in front of him. It was a well-worked move for the goal-Leutweiler almost blocked it out but it had just gone over the line before we hacked it away. After that Collins missed an absolute sitter and they did not trouble us much more apart from Leutwiler having a brainstorm and leaving his line for no reason and then pushing the ball away several yards outside his box - he was lucky just to get a booking. Second half sees Mangan come on for Akpro and we look a lot livelier up front but then Grandison gets caught in a tangle with Yussuf and even though the ball seems to be going away from the goal the ref incredibly sends Grandison off. Amazingly this seems to inspire our team who completely dominate from then on with Woods running the show,Grimmer repeatedly skinning their left-back, Lawrence getting more into the game and Mangan running in behind from Collin's flicks. Grant then misses another sitter and their keeper then has an inspired twenty minutes keeping out shots and headers from all over the place. Mangan then gets his reward with a great run and inspired strike and the only question is if we will score again with more heroics from their keeper. It was looking to be just a very exciting point but one final burst from Mangan into the box in injury time and he was tugged back. It was so obvious even this ref could not fail to give it and Lawrence coolly slotted home low into the corner. Cue absolute bedlam from the travelling faithful and a well-deserved three points. Woods was magnificent throughout but, even though he only played one half Mangan completely turned the game on its head and was my Man of the Match. Dagenham is a strange place to go - a bit like the old non-league grounds with very welcoming stewards, an old, decaying ground that would not grace the Evostick league and a sub-2000 complement of home fans who barely uttered a squeak throughout. That is now five out of five in the league and automatic promotion looks very feasible if we keep performing with the spirit and quality we showed today.
Nice write up ghmm. It sounded good on the radio. Mangan seemed to completely change things. The last time we won five in a row was supposedly in 1995.
