Boss Uddin taking squad to watch League Two fixture as part of their development

Sporting Bengal United are without a game this weekend so boss Anwar Uddin is taking them to watch a League Two match to improve their knowledge.

The Mile End Stadium club are next in Essex Senior League action on Monday when they travel to Bowers & Pitsea.

Last Saturday they lost 1-0 to Ilford, despite an impressive display and now they will be watching two more local teams.

Uddin is taking his side to Brisbane Road to see Leyton Orient take on his former club Dagenham & Redbridge.

He said: “I want to give us an educational lesson, so I’m taking all the boys to watch Orient against my old team. A lot of them only see Match of the Day, Premier League games or Champions League matches.

“They see the skills those players have and try to copy them, but it is all about watching the leagues just above ourselves. I encourage the boys to watch the National League or the South division because those players are still learning their trade.

“They’re not the finished article, but they know how to do a job. I think it is so important we watch teams at those levels and learn from what they do.”

Uddin is keen for his players to see on Saturday that they are not too far away from reaching the Football League. Bengal have had several players develop and join clubs in the Ryman League this season.

Now the ex-Daggers captain wants them to try and understand why certain players from the non-league scene break into the professional side of the game.

“It is good for us to watch and support our local club and we need to take it in because I think it’s so crucial for the development of my boys,” added Uddin.

“We can go and watch somebody like Jobi McAnuff, a good friend of mine, who has played in the Premier League. Look at him and the likes of Jay Simpson and think what have they got that we haven’t?

“I always encourage my lads to think about that because football isn’t just about training. You need to see teams like Bowers and Basildon Unied from our league and question why they are doing as well as they are this season and what we can copy.”