Just
when it appeared as if we had turned a corner, we had to go and 'do
an Oxford' and screw it up with a disappointing defeat at home to
Dagenham & Redbridge. If wins against Wycombe
and Barnet had provided ample reason to feel positive at last about
this Oxford side, this performance against Dagenham was a stark
reminder that we still have a long way to go if we want to reach the
level that is expected and demanded.
We
started the game lethargically and Dagenham soon took control,
forcing Clarke into action early to keep out a dangerous-looking shot
from Medy Elito. The Daggers were everything we were not; they wanted
the ball, they created space in dangerous positions and they were
committed to a simple and effective passing game. Oxford on the other
hand seemed flat-footed, incapable of maintaining possession and slow
to close down their opponents.
So
it was unsurprising that Dagenham took a deserved 1-0 lead into the
break and perhaps would have led by more, if not for the timely
intervention of Jake Wright to clear a goalbound shot off the line
after Clarke suicidally rushed from his goal. The goal, when it came,
was disappointing not because it was undeserved, but because it was
thoroughly preventable. A simple corner routine found Sam Williams
unchallenged, who steered his header into the gaping goal. The
defence failed to do their relatively simple jobs on two fronts;
firstly, in failing to mark properly, and secondly by not stationing
someone on the near post.
Despite
all this we did have some chances in the first half to snatch an
undeserved equaliser. Dagenham were overambitious with their
attacking play at times and were almost caught on the break on a
couple of occasions, the best of which saw James Constable race clear
before taking himself too wide and blasting the ball at Daggers
goalkeeper Chris Lewington.
The
second half started in much the same manner as the first, with the
home side looking generally sluggish and out of sorts. Dagenham
lumped a long free kick up towards our area, sparking the
depressingly predictable chaos in our defence. The ball fell to
Dwight Gayle, whose shot was well-saved by Clarke, but Luke Howell
was on hand to knock in the rebound.
Finally,
this seemed to provide the shock that woke up our dreary side. Oxford
began to press forward with an urgency lacking in the first 55
minutes as they tried desperately to salvage something from this
match. Rigg did excellently to beat his man on the left wing and
picked out Tom Craddock from the byline, whose volley left the
'keeper with no chance. Game on?
Seconds
later it was game off again, as Dagenham restored their two-goal
cushion – again from a corner, again the defence simply went to
sleep at a set piece. Luke Wilkinson this time evaded his marker to
gain a free header and leave us back in the mire.
One
of the only positives from tonight at least is that Craddock
continues to find the net, and it was his efforts which again put us
back in touch. Femi Ilesanmi played a suicidal back pass in the general direction of his goalkeeper which was
easily intercepted by Craddock, who coolly slotted home to restore
the faith.
An
undeserved equaliser appeared to be within reach when Dagenham
midfielder Kevin Maher was rightly sent off for a second bookable
offence. However, this arguably signalled the end of our challenge by
killing off any remaining attacking ambition that may have lingered
within the Dagenham side and they focused their efforts on defending
their lead – mainly through a series of frustrating stoppages and
timewasting tactics which the referee did nothing to stop.
It
was a frustrating end to the evening, as we failed to create a single
meaningful chance in the last 20 minutes despite playing with a man
advantage. The defeat marked a return to the dismal performances of a
few weeks ago and leaves us looking to recover on Saturday when bogey
side Torquay are the visitors.
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