Dagenham and Redbridge are used to succeeding against the odds and travel to Everton tomorrow looking to cause an FA Cup upset.
The Daggers have punched above their weight in recent years and manager John Still, back for a third spell in charge, is relishing the trip to Goodison Park.
“It is a great game for the club,” he said. “To go to Everton in the FA Cup is incredible but I have been brought up on incredible things with this club. Like getting into League One and playing as equals to the likes of Charlton and Southampton.
“So this club is used to breaking boundaries and being strong. It is another great occasion in a list of great occasions for this club.”
Roberto Martinez today confirmed Everton will be without in-form striker Romelu Lukaku because of an ankle injury but Still knows Dagenham, who are just outside the relegation zone in League Two, face a difficult test against the Premier League side.
MEET THE BOSS
John Still, 65, was involved in non-League football before spells at Peterborough and Barnet in the 1990s. He took over at Dagenham and Redbridge in 2004 and guided them from the Conference to League One and back to League Two during a nine-year spell. He spent two years at Luton before returning to Dagenham for a third time.
“I have seen Everton a couple of times on television this year,” he said. “They are a great footballing side and have a great philosophy of how they want to play.
“Whatever their team is they will certainly give us a test and we need to make sure we can do enough to keep ourselves in the game for as long as possible and then trust the good fortune of FA Cup shocks to shine on us.
“We want to put on a good performance in the FA Cup but the big picture is to make sure that we stay in the Football League.”
