Chapple and Goodliffe aim to inspire the Cards to safety

Dagenham and Redbridge vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Saturday 7th April 2018

Geoff Chapple returns as Woking’s interim manager on Saturday as the Cards travel to Dagenham and Redbridge looking to end a run of nine games without a win.

Monday’s defeat at relegation rivals Torquay proved to be Anthony Limbrick’s last as Woking boss and the pressure now passes to Chapple and assistant coach Jason Goodliffe as the pair look to address an alarming slide down the National League table. The Cards have managed just two league wins since November, the last of which came in early February, and now sit just three points below Barrow and Solihull Moors, who occupy the last of the four relegation places. Both teams still have games in hand over the Cards and have better goal differences, meaning that for the first time this season, Woking are reliant on results elsewhere. Torquay, who have picked up 10 points in their last four games, also can’t be discounted from the equation as the survival race hots up. With just five games remaining the Cards know that they have to find a return to their early season form sooner rather than later.

Dagenham have had a tough season, with their seemingly comfortable spot in mid-table telling far from the whole story, with widely reported off the field issues and financial struggles marring much of the second-half of their campaign. After a host of promising summer editions, the Daggers were tipped by many for promotion at the start of the season, but have fallen away from the play-off race in recent months after losing several key players in January. They currently sit in 11th place with 58 points from 40 games, seven points adrift of the top seven, but still comfortably clear of the bottom four. After losing seven games out of nine at the start of the year their recent form has seen something of an improvement with wins over AFC Fylde and Maidstone United as well as a draw with Gateshead in their last three games. They’ll be hoping to finish the season strongly before their long-term fate becomes clearer over the summer break.

The Cards desperately need your support for this huge game and Geoff has urged the fans to continue to get behind the team as much as possible as you have done all season! So please make the relatively short trip if you possibly can and cheer on the boys!

Woking Team News

It will be interesting to see if the Cards, under their new management team, will make any changes to the side beaten by both Macclesfield and Torquay. At the back, Joey Jones has endured a tough run of form, and could be the man to miss out if Chapple and Goodliffe wish to employ something of a reshuffle. With Jordan Wynter now fit, he could move across to centre-back to partner Josh Staunton, in what has arguably been the team’s strongest combination this season. Matt Young could then return at full-back alongside Louis Ramsay assuming, that is, that Nathan Ralph is not fit to start.

The next choice will be as to whether to stick with the three-man midfield of Chez Isaac, Kane Ferdinand and Charlie Carter, or to sacrifice one of them in favour of a second striker. With Anthony Cook and Regan Charles-Cook likely to continue on the flanks it will be a choice of one the midfield trio to make way for, most likely, Louie Theophanous – who has looked promising in partnership with Reece Grego-Cox in recent games.

Dagenham Team News

Despite their difficulties off the pitch manager John Still continues to have a strong squad of players to pick from and the Cards will need to return to somewhere near their best to repeat their victory over the Daggers from earlier in the season.

Last time out, Still went with experienced goalkeeper Mark Cousins; a back four of long-time Boreham Wood full-back Ben Nunn, captain Craig Robson, youngster Luke Pennell, who spent the early part of his career in the Southern Premier League, and former Luton Town favourite Luke Howells; in midfield was the pairing of England C international and former Birmingham City academy graduate Charlee Adams alongside the hugely experienced Andre Boucaud; further forward was the exciting Fejiri Okenabirhie, scorer of 10 goals this season, along with former Woking player Chike Kandi and Dan Sparkes, who is known from his spells with Torquay and Braintree; up front was another former Braintree player in striker Michael Cheek.

Their options from the bench include another former Card, midfielder Matt Robinson, as well as fellow midfielders Luke Howell and Elliot Bonds. Their substitute goalkeeper Lewis Moore is also commonly joined amongst the substitutes by defender Bondz N'Gala who has had spells with Eastleigh and Dover amongst others.

Last Time Out

Woking 1-0 Dagenham and Redbridge (Saturday 07 October 2017 – Vanarama National League)

It’s hard to believe that Woking sat third after this result, with 28 points, just one behind leaders Macclesfield Town. The Cards have managed just 16 points from the next 26 games and now come into the return fixture in very different spirits. A single goal from Regan Charles-Cook, arguably the goal of the season thus far, was enough to give the Cards victory at Kingfield whilst Chez Isaac was voted man-of-the-match after an excellent midfield performance.

On the Day

The Cards Trust will be running a coach to this game leaving the Laithwaite Community Stadium at 12pm. This will be charged at £13 for members and £18 for non-members. Under-16s are £7 and £9 respectively. For those travelling directly, the ground is located on Victoria Road in Dagenham, the postcode is RM10 7XL. To travel by train, take the District Line from central London to Dagenham East, which is five minutes from the ground. Ticket prices for the game are £21 for adults, £15 for concessions, £12 for juniors (10-16 year olds) and £2 for those under the age of 10.

Next Up

The Cards have a quick turnaround after this game as they travel to Maidenhead United on Tuesday evening for a rearranged fixture. This is followed by a home game the following Saturday with FA Trophy finalists and play-off chasers Bromley. Tickets are available online now via our website.