Leaders Take Focus But It's Too Early To Call Them That!

Dagenham & Redbridge lead the fledgling table on goal difference after a fantastic first four matches.

The big debate among football fans is just when we can start paying proper attention to the early standings.

Well, the answer often depends on if your side has made a flying start - of if they’ve been slow off the mark.

But ahead of the live weekend trip to King’s Lynn Town, Dagenham manager Daryl McMahon is very much in the ‘too soon’ camp.

He says we’ve got quite a wait until he gets excited but would love to put on a show at teatime on Saturday.

“It’s a good start, we’ve had a good start - but I keep saying it, being top of the table now it’s great for everyone else but it’s very early,” he told the Barking & Dagenham Post.

“You want to be a team that when you get to March, April or May that you’re in and around the positions where you can try to win promotion.

“That is many months away and I think across the season there are going to be ups and downs in games and across different periods.”

Dagenham have won at Barnet and Stockport County, as well as defeating Bromley in a 4-2 thriller on home turf.

But they did show they’re not flawless as they let winless Wealdstone in last weekend before a double fightback picked up a point.

The East Londoners have conceded first in three of four of their Vanarama National League matches this season.

But the boss isn’t overly concerned by being a little slow starting.

“It’s really important, we will dissect the game and then we’ll get ready to attack King’s Lynn, obviously we’re on the TV and we’re looking forward to it,” McMahon added.

“It makes it difficult when you concede first, but it’s another game where we’re controlling the game to be honest, and it’s not one that I'm worried about in the sense of getting back into it.”

King’s Lynn Town look a different animal this season.

The pandemic meant it wasn’t the first season at Step 1 that the Linnets wanted.

Not winning any of their final 13 matches last season, manager Ian Culverhouse was determined to get things right this summer.

Losing talented Sonny Carey to Blackpool, the club have looked closely at how they are moving forward.

This new-look side have spirit, too.

Coming from a goal down to win at Yeovil Town, they came from behind to earn a plucky point at Eastleigh - Brett McGavin striking five minutes from the end to salvage a 3-3 draw.

But with defeats to Southend United and Chesterfield at the Walks already, Lynn fans hope it’s third time lucky.

However, the draw at Eastleigh came at a cost to the Norfolk club.

Talented striker Gold Omotayo is now out “for several weeks" because of an ankle ligament injury picked up at the Silverlake.

“Everyone is looking for the 25-goal striker, but they cost bundles of money,” Culverhouse told the Eastern Daily Press.

“You’ve seen some of the clubs have gone out and spent this year and what they’re paying them, I am afraid we are way down the bracket there.

“But we will keep looking and hopefully one will walk past.”

The manager was thrilled with the spirit shown at Eastleigh and wants to see that continue this weekend.

In front of the cameras, he has challenged the club’s fans and players to show what the club is all about.

“It’s fantastic for the club and we want everyone to see there is progress being made.

"We're looking forward to it and hopefully we'll see another great crowd."

Kick-off at The Walks this Saturday is 5.20pm, live on BT Sport.

IMAGES: DAGENHAM AND REDBRIDGE FC & TIM SMITH