John Still looking to spring a surprise against Peter Reid’s struggling side

Dagenham & Redbridge could not ask for a better time than tonight to pick up a first league victory over Plymouth Argyle.

The two sides are both struggling in League One, but while John Still’s men were labelled as pre-season relegation favourites, the Pilgrims were among the favourites to bounce back to the Championship.

Peter Reid’s side go into tonight’s fixture on the back of four straight league defeats, three of which have come at home.

Having lost to Swindon Town, Exeter City, Tranmere Rovers and Brentford in recent weeks – all of whom are mid-table or below in the division – Daggers will believe they can go to Home Park and increase the pressure on the former Sunderland chief.

On top of that, Plymouth have shown a weakness in defending set-pieces recently, which could play into the hands of the visitors who frequently bombard the opposition penalty area with crosses and balls forward.

Midfielders like Danny Green will take the responsibility to exploit the leaky rearguard and Reid admits he, in particular, is a cause for concern.

“The delivery of Green off dead balls is going to be something we will have to watch. We will have to defend really well,” he warned.

“Where we have been poor doing that, we will have to make sure we are up to the mark.”

He added: “You looked at us on Saturday (against Brentford), in terms of physique and height, and you would have thought we should be able to defend dead balls, but we just switch off.

“Sometimes with that physical presence you need a mental alertness as well.

“One thing I impress on the players in training, and certainly before they go out for every game, is that they must concentrate on dead balls, for and against.

“That’s so important, and not just in this league. It’s all through football, even at the highest level.”

Scott Doe remains on the sidelines with an ankle ligament injury, but Tony Roberts is close to returning from a groin injury.

Still will have a game-time decision to make over who plays between the sticks, although stand-in stopper Chris Lewington is in confident mood.

“In this league they’re all tough. We’ve played Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday already,” he said.

“We went to Charlton and got a 2-2 draw, so who says we can’t go to Plymouth and win this time?”

Predicted team: Lewington, Ogogo, Arber, Antwi, Ilesanmi, Green, Vincelot, Taiwo, Palsson, Gain, Savage.

Subs: Roberts, McCrory, Brown, Tomlin, Elito, Currie, Bingham.