MATCH PREVIEW: Dagenham & Redbridge

Both sides have made good starts to the season, but it is clear that the Daggers have the edge on the Bees so far. John Still's team are currently placed 2^nd in the table with 20 points from 9 matches, having only lost once in the league so far this season; at Notts County. Barnet, who had been unbeaten in 8 league and cup games, lost 3-0 at Rotherham United, a defeat that saw them slip from 4^th to 8^th in the table, just outside the play offs.

The Daggers are out of the Carling Cup and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy this season having lost 3-1 in the 1^st round of both competitions; to Cardiff City in the Carling Cup and to MK Dons in the JPT.

Dagenham were promoted to League Two in 2007 after having comprehensively won the Conference. In their first season in league football, they struggled somewhat, but managed at least to stay up, finishing 20^th. Last season was a revelation as the club came very close to making the play-offs, only missing out to Shrewsbury Town, who defeated them on the last day of the season to leap frog above the Daggers into 7^th place. Dagenham had to settle for 8^th place. This season they have started off in similar vein to last season.

During the summer, the Daggers lost a number of key players including the trio of Danny Foster, Sam Saunders and ex Bee, Ben Strevens who all decamped to Brentford. However, former Barnet manager, John still has rebuilt his squad, largely with players from non-league football, in a similar way to that which Paul Fairclough did two seasons ago at Underhill. However, the young and hungry Daggers seem to have adjusted more quickly to league football than the Bees did, though the young Bees did help Barnet to achieve their only top half finish since returning to the league in 2005.

Amongst the new signings are full back, Scott Doe from Weymouth, midfield player, Danny Green from Bishops Stortford and strikers, John Scott from Hayes & Yeading and Wesley Thomas from Grays Athletic.

To add some experience, the Daggers have also signed former Wycombe defender, Will Antwi and ex Millwall midfield player, Daniel Spiller. Also new at Victoria Road, is ex Arsenal defender, Abu Ogogo who had a spell on loan at Underhill last season, most notable for having been sent off twice.

The major presence up front is still Paul Benson who has already scored 8 goals this season after turning down a number of offers during the close season to move away from Victoria Road, while the evergreen, Tony Roberts, who has made more than 350 league appearances for the Daggers, continues to star between the goalposts.

Last Saturday, both sides had disappointing results, with the Bees crashing 3-0 at highly placed, Rotherham United, while the Daggers, rather surprisingly, were held 1-1 at home by struggling, Morecambe.

In previous meetings, there has been a trend for the home side to win with the Bees getting little joy in the meetings at Victoria Road, but more often than not winning the matches at Underhill. Last season's match at Underhill ended in a 1-1 draw.

Barnet and Dagenham should both be able to choose from fully fit squads. For the Bees, captain Micah Hyde should return after missing Saturday's defeat at Rotherham with Nicky Deverdics dropping to the bench. Gary Breen could make his first start of the season as Ian Hendon has the difficult job of choosing his strongest defence to start against the Daggers. John Still is likely to continue with the side that played Morecambe on Saturday with Josh Scott and Paul Benson continuing up front.

Tonight's game is going to be hard for the Bees as the Daggers are riding high with just one league defeat all season. However, Barnet are looking strong at home and the players will be keen to put Saturday's bad performance behind them. The Bees do also have a good home record against the Daggers. Therefore, Barnet Mad are going to stick their neck out and go for a Bees win tonight, perhaps by 2-1.