Daggers must dig deep says Hackett
DAGENHAM & Redbridge assistant manager Warren Hackett warned the club is still not out of trouble despite securing back-to-back wins amidst a feast of fabulous finishing against Tranmere.
Jamie Cureton, Ashley Hemmings and Billy Bingham scored three scintillating goals to ease the Daggers’ relegation fears further, while Micky Adams slammed his Rovers defence after admitting his team just weren’t good enough at the back.
Tranmere responded with goals from Danny Gardner and Max Power as fans were treated to more finishing from the top drawer, but only one set stayed happy as Hackett vowed for the Daggers to kick on.
“It was an important win,” Hackett said.
“Tranmere are one of the teams in and around us and we need to ensure we beat those teams.
“There were some nice goals scored and we looked confident in the final third of the pitch.
“Fair play to Tranmere because they threw the kitchen sink at us and that’s what you’d expect because they are in a precarious position.
“We stayed strong at the end but we are not silly enough to think that we are out of trouble yet.
“We just want to keep winning football matches after what was a very good week for us.”
Cureton dragged a shot wide in the 32nd minute following a neat interchange with Luke Howell at the other end.
He atoned on 40 minutes, however, placing a classy lob over the exposed Owain Fon Williams after running onto Andre Boucaud’s ball over the top.
Tranmere substitute Gardner curled a stunning equaliser into the top corner from the edge of the box just three minutes later.
But Hemmings put the Daggers back in front five minutes into the second half when he found the bottom corner with a mesmerising strike with the outside of his foot.
Bingham then scored a sweetly-struck 53rd-minute drive from 30 yards to put the visitors in control.
Power drilled in to ensure a nervy finish during which Janoi Donacien blazed over late on.
But Rovers boss Adams said:“We’ve made mistakes at the back and they’ve been punished. Defensively we were miles away from where we needed to be.
“It is frustrating because we did our homework and told the players what to expect on the training ground.
“With the chances we created we could have got something out of it.
“It’s hard for everybody to take, the supporters not least of all.
“I take responsibility but the players have to look at themselves too.”