Match Preview: Dagenham & Redbridge (A) - 28th February 2026

Photo courtesy of Fin Hall

By Josh Cole

After three consecutive home games, The Stags are on the road and heading for Essex to play against Dagenham & Redbridge!

Last time out AFC Totton drew 1-1 with Slough Town on home soil. CLICK HERE to read the match report.

Tickets are cheaper to purchase in advance, CLICK HERE to buy your tickets for tomorrow!

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:

The Daggers are currently in 13^th place on 49 points from 34 games played.

Their season started winless in the first four matches, drawing two and losing two before they managed to get a win at home against Hemel Hempstead, 2-1. However, they couldn’t follow it up and in their next three league games, lost two and drew once.

In the FA Cup second qualifying round a replay was required for Dagenham to beat Bedford Town. Back into the league and they picked up a good 0-0 draw away at Dorking.

In the third qualifying round of the FA Cup is where they were knocked out, courtesy of Spalding United, 3-1. In their next three matches, two in the league, and one in the Essex Senior Cup they once again were winless. A loss at home to Maidstone followed the FA Cup defeat and then a 0-0 draw away against Torquay was next, which was a good result. In the senior cup, Dagenham lost 5-0 at Little Oakley.

Form picked up before the reverse fixture, as in their last nine matches they only lost once, to Horsham. In that span of games, they have won six of those nine, also progressing in the FA Trophy with a victory over Tilbury. They drew two in that period as well.

After beating us 0-5 at home, they went unbeaten for another three matches, with a win in the FA Trophy 3^rd round and two league draws before a loss to Hornchurch. This started a shaky period for Dagenham, as they won 1-4 away at Chelmsford, but then lost their next three games, all by the scoreline of a goal to nil, two came in they league, one in the FA Trophy away at Wealdstone.

Midway through January, the form picked up again, and since then, they have played eight games up until now, winning five, losing two and drawing one.

LAST FIVE: DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE

Vs Chesham United | Away | ENLS | Won 0-1

Goalscorer: Will Lannin-Sweet 81’

Vs Maidenhead United | Away | ENLS | Lost 2-0

Vs Bath City | Home | ENLS | Won 1-0

Goalscorer: Dermi Lusala 38’

Vs Horsham | Away | ENLS | Drew 1-1

Goalscorer: Joe Haigh 36’

Vs Chippenham Town | Home | ENLS | Won 4-2

Goalscorers: Aramide Oteh 54’, Dylan Stephenson 55’, Reggie Young 69’ & Joe Haigh 90+8’

LAST FIVE: AFC TOTTON

Vs Slough Town | Home | ENLS | Drew 1-1

Goalscorer: Christie Ward 39’

Vs Hornchurch | Home | ENLS | Won 1-0

Goalscorer: Own Goal 39’

Vs Hampton & Richmond | Home | ENLS | Drew 1-1

Goalscorer: Ash Clarke 33’

Vs Ebbsfleet United | Away | ENLS | Lost 4-0

Vs Dover Athletic | Home | ENLS | Won 3-0

Goalscorers: Scott Rendell 27’, Luke Hallett 34’ & Tony Lee 49’

COMPARING THE STATS (ALL COMPS)

MY OPPOSITION PLAYERS TO WATCH

DEFENCE: COREY PANTER

Panter came through Luton Town’s academy and spent the 2019–20 season on loan at Hendon and Biggleswade Town. In July 2021, he joined Dundee on loan, scoring on his debut and making his Scottish Premiership debut later that year before being recalled in January 2022.

He ended that season with a loan at Kidderminster Harriers, then signed with Eastleigh in July 2022 after a successful trial. In February 2024, he had a short loan at Weymouth, impressing before returning to Eastleigh and signing a new one-year deal. He left the club at the end of the 2024–25 season.

MIDFIELD: JOE HAIGH

A former Chelsea youth player, the talented midfielder has represented England at U15 and U16 levels and was also involved in an England U19 training camp.

Joe joined Aldershot Town in October 2023 before making a permanent switch to South Park, who were eighth in their division at the time.

In late February 2024, Haigh stepped up from Isthmian League South Central side South Park, where he had been playing alongside his brother, Marco, to join Farnborough. After impressing in several appearances, the young attacking midfielder signed a contract with the club through to the end of the 2024/25 season.

ATTACK: DYLAN STEPHENSON

Stephenson joined the Newcastle United academy at fourteen years old. He signed his first professional contract with Newcastle in July 2021. The following summer he agreed a new contract with the club. This came after he scored 10 goals in 16 appearances in Premier League 2.

That summer he had his first taste of first-team action playing in a pre-season friendly against Atalanta. He also scored in a friendly match for the first team during the club's training camp in Saudi Arabia in December 2022, against Al Hilal SFC.

Dylan then joined Hamilton Academical on a six-month loan deal in January 2023. He scored on his debut for Hamilton, the only goal in a 1-0 away win against Partick Thistle in the Scottish Championship.

In January 2024, it was announced that Stephenson had moved on loan to National League North side South Shields until the end of the season, where he scored eight goals in 17 games.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee - David Jones
Assistant Ref 1 - David Johnston
Assistant Ref 2 - Imran Khan
Fourth Official - Patrick Jolliffe
 

GO STAGS