Goal-shy Labadie ends his drought
WAYNE Burnett wants Dagenham to turn Victoria Road into a fortress after two goals from Joss Labadie ensured they saw off York City.
Labadie struck in each half – his first goals since joining from Torquay United in the summer – to give the Daggers their first win for over a month.
And while Burnett felt his side have not been at their best, he was relieved to see a change in their fortunes.
"I think it was a very professional performance and a very workman like performance,” he said.
“We've probably played better in previous weeks and haven't got results but I was very pleased that we managed to pick up three points.
“Joss Labadie's got two goals which is extremely pleasing but the most pleasing thing for me is that we managed to keep a clean sheet because we haven't done that of late .
“This group of players have a fantastic work ethic and they showed that again.
"We have to build on this and capitalise on our home form and we have to pick up more points and hopefully push ourselves up the table.”
York started well and Michael Coulson shot narrowly over after being found by Wes Fletcher before Marvin McCoy tested Mark Cousins.
Against the run of play the Daggers opened the scoring after 35 minutes. Ashley Chambers worked his way into the box before crossing to Labadie who finished beyond York goalkeeper Michael Ingham.
The visitors had a penalty appeal turned away shortly before halftime but they came out strongly after the break, Dave Winfield flashing a header narrowly wide on 58 minutes.
But the Daggers extended their lead four minutes later when Chambers found Labadie with a pinpoint free-kick with the midfielder heading home. The visitors pressed for a consolation but they rarely threatened Cousins and manager Nigel Worthington admits his side are not making things easy for themselves.
"Up to an hour at 1-0 we were very much in the game, with three or four clear cut chances and good balls coming in across the box and the second goal goes in and game over,” he said.
“At the moment we are finding it hard, we're making hard work for ourselves through the decisions we are making and that’s something that we have got to continue to look at working on.
"Two weeks ago, preBurton we looked a half decent side and at the moment, in the last fortnight we look a less than average side. It isn't good enough but we've got to keep working, keep plugging away and go from there."