Tie on a knife edge but Daggers boast bigger cutting edge

National League playoff semi-final second leg
BT Sport 1, 3pm Sunday

Dagenham and Forest Green played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the first leg of their National League playoff semi-final at Victoria Park and there is likely to be very little to choose between them in the return match in Gloucestershire.

Daggers boss John Still did everything he could to win the first match and finished it with four out-and-out attacking players on the pitch – attacking midfielder Corey Whitely plus forwards Paul Benson, Jordan Maguire-Drew and Oliver Hawkins.

Still has a big decision to make over Hawkins, who returned from a month out with a broken arm to feature for the last 20 minutes in midweek.

But the Daggers are blessed with numerous talented attackers such as Whitely, who has 15 goals to his name, Maguire-Drew (14) and Hawkins (18).

Forest Green managed the Daggers' threat well on Thursday but will be expected to push forward on home soil and that may leave them too open against a side who love to counter-attack with pace.

Dagenham are well set up to play on the road and have the results to show for it, having registered 14 of their 26 league wins in away fixtures.

They have played Forest Green three times this season – winning once and drawing twice – and will believe they can progress.

Forest Green might consider themselves favourites after digging out a good result from a tough away game but Mark Cooper's side have not won any of their last four matches and may be running out of steam at a critical moment of the season.

Picking a winner is tough but the Daggers look the value call to reach Wembley.

Recommendation
Dagenham and Redbridge to qualify
1pt 9-4 Betfair, Sky Bet

Bet on this game at Soccerbase.com

Team news
Forest Green
Courtney Williams missed the first leg through injury and his replacement, Josh Staunton, was withdrawn during the first half of Thursday's game. Top scorer Oliver Hawkins (broken arm) came off the bench and will be pushing for a first start in a month.

Dagenham
Darren Carter was released from his contract before the opening leg. No fresh injuries are reported.

Key stat
Dagenham are undefeated in their last six matches.