DAGGERS SLICED APART BY LIONS

AS Lewis Young looked wistfully over to the away end at The Den and Dagenham's loyal band of followers, part of him definitely rued what might have been.

- Matthew Nash

The Daggers interim manager who has been in charge since the sacking of Ben Strevens last month was handed the opportunity to lead his side into the FA Cup third-round tie against Championship Millwall.

But a first half in which the National League team failed to summon up the magic of the cup, cost them the chance of a third Football League scalp and while the second period was an improvement,

Young acknowledged the fact the game was heading from them by away then.

He cited "fear" and "emotion" as reasons behind the sluggish start to in proceedings south London, and said he was "a little bit gutted", as their cup run came to an end, albeit with the visitors battling to the end.

Goals from Mihailo Ivanovic, Casper De Norre and young debutant Ra'ees Bangura-Williams eventually eased the Lions into round four, and a trip to Leeds, but a sharper start and it may have been a different game.

"Today was filled with a little bit of disappointment, I don't feel we showed our true selves first half. I think we were overcome with fear, a little bit of emotion," Young admitted.