Dagenham & Redbridge striker Angelo Balanta insist his side are a match for any side in the division ahead of their visit of League Leaders Leyton Orient on Boxing Day. The Daggers ended Salford’s unbeaten home record on Saturday and Balanta highlights his side can be a threat against Orient. Speaking to daggers.co.uk “we are going to cause any team problems, the gaffer has put a philosophy down and we have been working on it. We are a good match for any side as we showed today”.

• Sit 15th on 31 points
• One Defeat in their last ten – W8  D1  L1
• League Record – P25  W9  D4  L12  F28  A31

Dagenham’s Last six Results

Dagenham’s sixth win in their last seven came courtesy of goals from Connor Wilkinson and Angelo Balanta at Salford. Carl Piergianni headed Salford ahead in the first half before Dagenham responded in the second half with the win moving them up to 15th. Manager Peter Taylor thought his side started the game slow but started to play once they fell behind. Speaking to daggers.co.uk “I actually thought we looked better 1-0 down than we did at the start. Sometimes you have to get on with it and got to show the opposition enough respect, but sometimes a bit too much”.

• Home League Record – P12  W4  D4  L4  F16  A16
• Unbeaten in their last four – W3  D1
• Three of their four home wins have been by one goal
• Not beaten Orient at home since 2010

Form in Last Eight Games

The Daggers are in the inform side in the National League and made the perfect start to their festive fixtures and will be hoping to back it up with a result against Orient. Taylor’s side were heavy outsiders at Moor Lane but the 65 revealed the confidence his side have. Speaking to daggers.co.uk “after we went a goal down, we scored a good goal. We said at half time, we can go on and win the game. We were very confident because Salford were expected to beat us and were going to come at us. I felt like we could have had three or four goals in the second half, if our finishing had been better”.

Dagenham’s Next 6 Results

Balanta moved to the Daggers in October and has been in fine form, scoring four goals in his last six games. The 28 year old is pleased that the hard work going on behind the scenes is starting to pay off on the pitch. Speaking to daggers.co.uk “we work on it all week and to see it come out on a Saturday, it is no surprise to myself or the management team. There is a real good factor around the place. We work hard all week in training and the fact we’re putting in performance in on Saturday’s and starting to get results is no surprise”.

• Dagenham failed to score in six league games
• Scored in their last seven games in all competitions
• Only failed to score in one of their last 10 league games
• Scored in last four away games and five of their last six
• Scored 15/28 league goals in second half (seven of their last 11 have been in second period)

Taylor’s side struggled at the start of the season picking up just two points from their first eight games. However since their takeover in September, they have been steadily improving and have now won seven of their last nine league games. Taylor admitted the mood has changed since the upturn in results at Victoria Road. Speaking to daggers.co.uk “good results bring the confidence out. The togetherness is important when you’re not winning, at the start of the season it wasn’t happening, now all of a sudden it’s happening. The two strikers will always get goals, their hold up play helps to link up play”.

• Kept five league clean sheets
• Kept just one in their last five games
• Kept just two in their last eight games
• Not kept a home league clean sheet since 04/09/2018 (seven games)

Boxing Day opponents Orient have enjoyed life at the top of the National League for the majority of the season. The Daggers have been slowly climbing the table and Taylor admits he feels his side now have a chance against the table toppers. Speaking to daggers.co.uk “Eight, nine or ten games ago, we were looking at Leyton Orient and thinking Oh Dear. Now we feel we can enter the same field and give them a good game”.

• Record against top six – P6 W3  D1  L2  F7  A7
• Only lost one of their four home games against the top five (2-1 defeat vs Wrexham)
• Have won their last two games against top five sides (2-1 vs Fylde and Salford)

 Team News

Elliott Justham is set to continue in goal after returning from illness against Salford on Saturday. Connor Wilkinson and Angelo Balanta will be looking to continue on the goal front after the pair have been involved in nine of their last 13 goals in all competitions. 

Head to Head – Dagenham 5, Draw 4, Leyton Orient 8

• Dagenham have not beaten Orient in last 11 meetings (90 minutes) – D5 L6
• Last beat Orient in 2010 in a 2-0 home victory
• Have not score in last four meetings against Orient
• Three of the last five meetings at Victoria Road have ended in draws
• Dagenham have only scored in one of the last four home games at Orient

The Last Eight meetings Between Sides

Last Time Out  – 2-1 victory at Salford

Starting 11 vs Salford

Prediction – Dagenham 1-1 Leyton Orient