Dagenham & Redbridge boss John Still upset with missed chances after Sutton United loss

Oliver Hawkins of Dagenham & Redbridge mishits his shot under pressure from Dean Beckwith (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468

Daggers manager knows visitors created more than enough to earn a draw at U’s

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Dagenham & Redbridge boss John Still was left to rue what might have been after the Essex club missed a hatful of chances in their National League loss at Sutton United.

The game’s only goal came after 11 minutes when Bradley Hudson-Odoi turned Ross Stearn’s cross past Elliot Justham in the Daggers goal.

Before that, the Victoria Road outfit could have taken the lead through Oliver Hawkins.

Jordan Maguire-Drew then had an effort cleared off the line before the break, while Hawkins blazed over from close range in the second half.

Ultimately, though, Daggers were unable to find an equaliser which Still believes their display at Gander Green Lane deserved.

“We’re a bit frustrated because I thought we ran the game in the second half.

“Jordan missed a great chance. It was a game of not many chances and Jordan’s missed it.

“Hawks had a great week and should have scored second half.

“What it was, the longer the game went, the deeper they got and there wasn’t a lot of space.

“When chances come, you have to take them and we didn’t. We did enough to win, but full credit to Sutton, they worked their socks off. I can’t criticise our performance, just our final third play was not as good as it has been.

“That’s why we brought Gutts on, who isn’t great on that surface and we probably have done ourselves a favour because he’s come off.

Daggers headed into the match without Andre Boucaud, who was on international duty, while Luke Guttridge dropped to the bench because of the 3G surface.

It meant that at just 27, captain Scott Doe was the oldest player on the pitch for the visitors.

And Still admits that may have hurt Daggers’ hopes of victory in south London with so many new faces adapting to life as a full-time footballer.

“We lacked a bit of experience, sometimes we were in too much of a rush and we needed to slow it down a bit,” he added.

“We found that difficult to come, but it’s not something that surprises me.”