Preview: Torquay United vs. Dagenham & Redbridge - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, meanwhile, appear to be heading for a season of mid-table obscurity given that they trail the playoff positions by nine points.

Match preview

Torquay, who finished 11th last season, can only dream of enjoying another campaign in the middle of the table, with Gary Johnson's side in serious danger of being relegated to the National League South for the second time in five seasons.

Having picked up only five points from their last 10 matches, the Gulls find themselves six points adrift of safety with only seven matches of the campaign remaining.

Johnson, who guided the club back to the National League at the first attempt after being appointed as Torquay's manager in September 2018, appears to be at a loss when it comes to turning their fortunes around.

Any team near the bottom needs to be able to rely on solid home form to climb out of a sticky situation, with five defeats in their last six matches at Plainmoor suggesting that is simply not the case for Torquay this season. However, claiming all three points on Saturday could dramatically alter the course of their campaign.

After suffering heartbreak when missing out on a playoff spot by a solitary point last season, Dag & Red appear to have fallen considerably shorter on that front this campaign.

Despite the club sitting in a respectable 10th position, with a five-point deficit to the top seven places, the Daggers made the decision to part ways with Daryl McMahon last month after a three-year partnership together.

Former Eastleigh boss Ben Strevens has been chosen as McMahon's successor, with the 42-year-old proving a popular appointment after making 125 league appearances for the club during his playing career.

However, Strevens will be judged by his results from the managerial dugout first and foremost, with a 1-1 draw at home to Oldham Athletic in his first game in charge representing a modest start.

With little pressure in terms of delivering tangible success between now and the end of the campaign, he can aim to build something for next season, with fixing the club's wretched away form in recent times likely to be a priority, starting from their trip to Torquay on Saturday.

Torquay United National League form:

L

L

D

L

L

D

Dagenham & Redbridge National League form:

W

W

L

W

L

D

Team News

Torquay will remain without Tom Lapslie due to suspension, with the defender set to serve the second of his three-match ban after being sent off in a 2-1 defeat at home to Wealdstone earlier this month.

Having avoided defeat away to Gateshead last time out, Johnson is unlikely to make any changes to his starting XI against Dag & Red this weekend.

Strevens, meanwhile, may also opt to retain a settled unit in what will only be his second game in charge after being appointed prior to last week's draw against Oldham.

Dag & Red were only seven minutes away from securing victory through Jay Bird's strike, so there is certainly no reason for their new boss to make changes en masse.

Torquay United possible starting lineup:

Halstead; Donnellan, Marshall, Lawrence, Moxey; Stobbs, McGavin, Dawson, Evans; Jarvis, Fadahunsi

Dagenham & Redbridge possible starting lineup:

Strizovic; Hare, Phipps, Onariase, Johnson; Robinson, Ling, Sagaf; Bird, Effiong, Saunders

We say: Torquay United 1-1 Dagenham & Redbridge

Despite Dag & Red realistically having little to play for between now and the end of the season, their players will be determined to impress their new manager, which should ensure that they remain professional and motivated until the off-season begins.

However, Torquay are scrapping for every point that they can possibly collect as they attempt to avoid dropping into the sixth tier once again, but they may have to settle for a point on Saturday.

Previews by email