Recently relegated Dagenham and Redbridge host Worthing at Victoria Road in the National League South, live on Dazn. Read our match preview, best bets and predictions below.
Dagenham and Redbridge were tipped as heavy ante-post favourites for the league – a price that still looks baffling today. Instead, the Daggers find themselves just outside the relegation zone after a poor start to the season.
Lee Bradbury’s side opened with a 2-0 home defeat to Ebbsfleet, followed by goalless and 2-2 draws against Salisbury and Tonbridge Angels. A 2-1 loss to Hampton & Richmond came next, before their only win so far – a scrappy 2-1 victory over Hemel Hempstead, where the Tudors were arguably unlucky not to take something from the game.
Since then, results have continued to disappoint: a heavy 3-0 defeat at Weston-super-Mare and a 2-2 draw away at Dover. With significant money spent in the summer, coupled with major off-field turmoil and high player turnover, the pressure on Bradbury is already mounting. A poor result against Worthing in front of the television cameras this weekend could even spell the end of his tenure.
In terms of key players, Ashley Hemmings is the standout. The forward has already netted twice this season and arrives with a prolific record, scoring 30 goals for Kidderminster in the National League North last year. Seen as a real coup when he signed, Hemmings was surprisingly benched midweek at Dover but is expected to return to the starting XI on Saturday.
Worthing are now entering their fourth consecutive season at this level after enduring three straight years of playoff heartbreak. Last season looked their best chance yet, but a poor Bank Holiday weekend – where they failed to win a single game – left them up against it heading into the run-in. A final-day 5-1 thrashing of Enfield Town wasn’t enough, as Eastbourne Borough, Torquay, and eventual champions Truro all finished above them. Once again, it meant the playoffs, where they were beaten 2-0 at home by Maidstone, condemning them to another season in step two.
It was Chris Agutter’s first campaign in charge, and while the 42-year-old impressed at times, he was arguably guilty of overthinking and tinkering too much as the season wore on. That habit carried into this season. A 1-1 opening draw with Bath was followed by a dramatic 4-3 Sussex Derby win away at Horsham, but then came a disappointing three-game spell: a 1-0 defeat to defensively vulnerable Farnborough, a frustrating 0-0 at home to goal-shy Enfield, and a 1-0 loss at Chippenham.
Agutter had switched to a five-at-the-back system designed to crowd midfield and play balls in behind, but it didn’t click. He reverted to his trusted 4-3-3, restoring balance with Nicky Wheeler and Razak Coleman De-Graft providing width and energy. The change paid off: Worthing produced an excellent performance in a 3-3 draw against Maidstone – a game they dominated – before comfortably seeing off Salisbury 2-0. Momentum is beginning to build, and the Rebels will fancy their chances of keeping it going.
Their standout player is Jack Spong, but he limped off injured against Salisbury and is a doubt for the weekend. If he misses out, the responsibility will fall on Martin Odei. The diminutive Spaniard is a tireless midfield terrier, constantly recycling possession and dictating tempo, and his influence will be vital if Worthing are to take control of the game.
The switch in formation has clearly given Worthing a sharper attacking edge, and Agutter is expected to stick with a similar XI to the one that has picked up four points from the last two games. Up against a Dagenham side under pressure – who have conceded at least twice in five of their seven matches and will be without suspended defender Corey Panter following his midweek red card – the Rebels will back themselves to add further goals to their tally on Saturday.
Prediction: Worthing Over 1.5 Goals - @2.37
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