Dagenham & Redbridge skipper Scott Doe knows October is set to be a huge month

Scott Doe of Dagenham & Redbridge (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468

Daggers defender says next few games will be tough, but squad has more than enough quality to come through it

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Dagenham & Redbridge head into October a point clear at the top of the National League, but know a key month lies ahead that could define their season.

The Victoria Road club begin a crucial month in which they face some of their promotion rivals with a home game against Tranmere Rovers tomorrow (Saturday), which is live on BT Sport 1, with a 5.30pm kick-off.

Rovers are currently fifth in the standings, while a difficult month will also see Daggers face Torquay United, Eastleigh, Macclesfield Town, Aldershot Town and Forest Green Rovers.

There is also the small matter of the FA Cup fourth qualifying round to come on October 15, meaning it is a vital few weeks ahead for the Essex club.

And while defender Scott Doe acknowledges there are some testing matches to come, he has full confidence the squad will emerge from it successfully.

“This month coming up is tough, there are some tough games, but you have to play everyone,” said the Daggers skipper.

“I know for a fact that if we keep playing how we have been, then teams will fear us.

“The table doesn’t lie and teams will fear us if we keep playing like we have been. If we do that, we’re going to win more than we lose.”

Tranmere, in particular, look to pose a difficult test up top for Daggers, with the Wirral outfit able to call upon attacking options such as James Norwood and Andy Cook, who have 12 goals between them so far this season.

Rovers have also recently added Louis Almond to their squad from local rivals Southport, where he hit 16 goals in 59 appearances for the Sandgrounders.

However, Daggers boast the fourth-best defensive record in the National League this season and have only failed to keep a clean sheet in one of their first six home matches.

And it is statistics such as those which give Doe hope that Daggers can record another shut-out this weekend.

“We’re at home to Tranmere, so first and foremost we want to win, but for me, I want another clean sheet as well,” he added.

“I believe if we do keep clean sheets, then we will go and win games because we have a lot of firepower up front.”

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