Peters praises loyal Magpies fans after improved display in defeat at Dagenham

Manny Onariase. Credit: MUFC

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Assistant boss Ryan Peters echoed the sentiments of manager Alan Devonshire in saying how pleased and relieved they were to see their side supported in a positive manner by Magpies fans at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday.

The Magpies were beaten once again, going down to a 57th minute goal from Joe Haigh, who poked home from close range following a header from former England international Andy Carroll.

But in general, this was an improved performance from the Magpies, who produced a resolute defensive display against the Daggers expensively assembled attacking line-up.

They were again lacking a spark in the final third, and Peters admitted afterwards that confidence in the camp was low.

But there was no repeat of the scenes that followed Maidenhead’s insipid exit from the FA Trophy at Leamington the previous weekend. The visitors gave up far fewer clear-cut chances to Dagenham and might have taken one of several half chances that fell their way at Victoria Road.

They were also no ugly scenes after the final whistle, in contrast to last weekend when Devonshire and certain players went over to try and appease angry supporters following the 2-0 loss at Leamington.

Despite the improved display though, this was still Maidenhead’s fifth league loss on the spin and their sixth defeat in seven in all competitions. The result drops them to 15th in the table, but they remain only eight points off the play-off places. It’s not inconceivable they could cut that gap between now and April, but they’ll have to restore confidence with some better performances and results.

Speaking to Maidenhead United’s media team after the game, Peters said: “It was a much-improved performance from the one our fans would have seen in the Trophy game. The effort levels were there to be seen. We’re lacking a bit of confidence and quality in the final third.

“We still need to get back to keeping clean sheets; it makes things a lot easier.

“Letting in one goal still gives us a platform to score a few and, at the moment, in that final third we’re struggling to create enough meaningful chances.

“There are a lot of half chances but not enough meaningful chances which would help us to score a few more goals.

“I echo the exact sentiments of the gaffer. But we’ve never been so pleased to see our fans at a game today.

“I know they always come but we wondered what the atmosphere was going to be like, but from the moment they stepped into the arena there was nothing but applause and they were cheering our boys on and giving the boys the confidence to go and compete.”

Maidenhead did well to keep Dagenham quiet for much of the game, but in the 57th minute, Carroll managed to get a run on his marker and nodded the ball down to Haigh who poked the ball past Jordi Van Stappershoef. That proved to be the game’s only goal, with substitute Jayden Mitchell-Lawson firing a late chance over the bar for the Magpies.

“We didn’t give too many chances up today,” said Peters.

“If you go back to the Trophy game, they had four one-on-ones, that’s not us. Today we were a lot more resolute, we put our bodies on the lines, we stopped them from getting into pockets of space to attack us.

“Again, if you look at the goal, it’s something we can definitely stop. I know it’s Andy Carroll, but we can do more to affect the second ball and we don’t. The defence also gave us a platform to go on and create maybe a little bit more than we have done today.

“The conditions were swirling and windy and rainy before the game started but once the game kicked off the temperature and conditions were just right for a slick, flowing football match. We can’t use the conditions as an excuse for why we haven’t won today. The conditions were just right.

“We know we need to be better. That’s clear and evident. Confidence is low at this moment in time and we’re trying our best to build that back up. We’re not making excuses; we need to start winning games and winning games quickly. But if we carry on with these effort levels, I know the quality will come back.”

The Magpies are back in league action at 17th placed Salisbury tomorrow evening (Tuesday). They are now level on 21 points with Maidenhead.

Peters added: “It would be great to get our first win in a while and have our fans there to cheer us and support us. Please come down and support us.”