Sky Bet League Two: Northampton Town 1 Dagenham & Redbridge 0
Dagenham & Redbridge dropped into the bottom two after their three-match unbeaten run was ended with a 1-0 defeat to Northampton Town at Sixfields Stadium.
Wayne Burnett’s team held out until the hour mark before Ricky Holmes finally gave the Cobblers the lead after they had dominated proceedings.
The Victoria Road came under intense pressure at various times against Chris Wilder’s team and disappointingly failed to create many opportunities throughout.
And victories for Tranmere Rovers and Carlisle United elsewhere in League Two meant Daggers dropped into the bottom two.
Burnett made three changes to the side held by Oxford United last weekend, though one was enforced.
Matt Partridge missed out with a hamstring injury so Damian Batt took his place at right-back, whilst forward Jamie Cureton was replaced by midfielder Andre Boucaud.
Alex Jakubiak was handed his first start for the club since joining on loan from Watford – coming in for Ashley Chambers.
The Cobblers came out of the blocks quickly and Brendon Moloney linked up well with Holmes on the right and Mark Cousins was forced to save from Jason Taylor inside the opening 60 seconds.
Chris Wilder’s team continued to enjoy the opening exchanges and won two corners in quick succession – the second nearly causing a goal.
Ryan Cresswell go onto the set piece and diverted an effort towards goal, which Billy Bingham cleared before the ball come back to him and he back heeled towards goal again, but Jakubiak smashed clear.
Northampton won two more corners inside the opening 10 minutes as they pushed for the opener, but Daggers survived to keep it goalless.
The visitors were struggling to string passes together, though, with various players either failing to control the ball or lacking accuracy.
Rhys Murphy needed to be more accurate with 18 minutes gone as he latched onto a hopeful long ball into the Cobblers half.
Home keeper Matt Duke had committed himself by coming halfway out of his goal, but the Daggers forward could only fire off target from 25-yards-out.
It was a great chance for Burnett side and though they wasted it, they took confidence from the opportunity.
John-Joe O’Toole did have a good chance for Cobblers five minutes after, but his outrageous back heel attempt went wide following Evan Horwood’s cross.
Lawson D’Ath, who was on loan at Victoria Road last season, should have opened the scoring eight minutes before the break, but completely miscued his effort.
Horwood delivered a wonderful ball to the back post and it seemed certain D’Ath, coming in behind Jack Connors, would score.
But the midfielder made a hash of the effort from close range and his shot ended up going back out to Horwood.
He stood up another delivery but Marc Richards could only head straight at Cousins from around the penalty spot as Daggers survived again.
Boucaud had an ambitious effort from long range shortly before he break, but it went wide and the half time whistle shortly followed with the visitors happy to come in goalless.
The home supporters were calling for a red card three minutes into the second period when Batt needless brought down Holmes with a strong challenge.
But referee Charles Breakspear dealt with the matter quickly and correctly just carded the right-back.
Northampton’s supporters were on their feet in the 52nd minute as Richards brilliantly headed home Holmes exquisite cross from the right.
But fortunately for Daggers it was ruled out for offside and Batt would have breathed a sigh of relief after giving the ball away in the lead up to the move.
The visitors again responded, though, as Boucaud picked out Murphy brilliantly just before the hour mark.
But after making some space for himself, he side footed straight at Duke and the promising moment was gone.
A minute later and home side made them pay with Holmes finding the opener with a brilliant solo goal.
O’Toole initially drove at Daggers defence before squaring to Holmes, he cut inside before checking back and firing into the corner to finally give Cobblers the lead.
Burnett responded by introducing Cureton and Ade Yusuff for Murphy and Jakubiak – a move the away supporters weren’t too pleased with.
But the duo struggled to make an impact and the home side continued to push for a second with Moloney and Holmes both going close.
Cresswell nearly lost his head and doubled the lead at the same time in the 80th minute, but his deflection on Holmes shot went over the bar.
Seven minutes from time Northampton were inches away from doubling their lead when Holmes cut back for D’Ath.
But Batt got a slight deflection on D’Ath’s effort and it looped up and hit the crossbar before the away side cleared.
D’Ath again had another opportunity to score two minutes before full time, but Doe made a sensational challenge to keep it 1-0.
Daggers did push for an equaliser in the dying moments of the game after four minutes were added on, but they never looked like scoring and their barren run against the Cobblers continued.
Northampton Town: Duke, Moloney, Cresswell, Collins, Horwood, D’Ath, Taylor, Byrom, Holmes (Toney 90), O’Toole (Hackett 84), Richards.
Unused substitutes: Carter, Tozer, Snedker, Diamond, Robertson.
Dagenham & Redbridge: Cousins, Batt, Doe, Obileye, Connors, Jakubiak (Yusuff 65), Labadie, Boucaud, Bingham, Hemmings (Chambers 82), Murphy (Cureton 65).
Unused substitutes: O’Brien, Saah, Howell, Widdowson.
Attendance: 4,122 (156 Daggers supporters).
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