Dagenham & Redbridge defender Jimmy Shepherd praises communication in defence after clean sheet in win at Maidstone United

Jamar Loza of Maidstone United and Joe Widdowson of Dagenham & Redbridge (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468

Daggers full-back says it was important inexperienced back four talked to one another at Stones

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Alex Flisher of Maidstone United and Josh Staunton of Dagenham & Redbridge (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) Alex Flisher of Maidstone United and Josh Staunton of Dagenham & Redbridge (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo)

Jimmy Shepherd says communication was the key to an inexperienced Dagenham & Redbridge back four keeping Maidstone United at bay in the second half of a 1-0 win.

Though a goal to the good at the time, Daggers were forced into a change at the break as skipper Scott Doe went off with a hamstring injury.

It led to striker Oliver Hawkins dropping to centre-back to form a back four along with Shepherd and Josh Staunton, who between them have just 25 first-team appearances, and Joe Widdowson.

Despite that, the defence coped well in the second period, and Shepherd believes that was down to good communication.

“It’s helpful when the defence is talking to me because sometimes I get caught out of position. I might go up when I don’t need to and I should instead sit,” said the full-back.

“When we were 1-0 up, we were coping comfortably so me going forward probably wasn’t the right thing to do at the time.

“We needed to keep it tight as a four, keep it compact and the boys communicated well.”

“It was a bit a worrying at the time when Scott went off, but Hawks filled in there and did a great job.”

The win at Maidstone was a first Daggers appearance of the season for Shepherd, who had only just returned from a loan spell at Egham Town.

The teenager coped well against the pace of Stones forward Jamar Loza, while also doing fine as an attacking option down the right flank.

As the 19-year-old came over to talk to the press, he was praised by Daggers boss John Still and Shepherd was equally pleased with his performance.

“I’m happy with my display and I feel like I’ve gone in at the deep end having just come back from loan at Egham,” he added.

“Going forward I was cutting in, trying to take people on and be positive, like the gaffer tells me to be.”