HEREFORD United are brimming with confidence as they look to turn their weekend derby league triumph into FA Cup success.
The Bulls ended a four-game goal drought with a 3-0 home victory over local rivals Cheltenham on Saturday with Steve Guinan netting twice against his former employers.
Sam Gwynne was also on target as United moved off the bottom of League One ahead of tonight’s FA Cup first round replay at the Daggers (7.45).
The sides drew 0-0 at Edgar Street 10 days ago but have the added incentive of a trip to Leicester in the next round for success at Victoria Road.
Hereford manager Graham Turner expects the hosts to have been buoyed by their draw on November 8 but knows how much his side will have been lifted by the Cheltenham triumph.
“It will do our confidence the world of good,” he said. “It was a relief for everybody but particularly the strikers. It’s going to be a difficult game there, we know that.
“I suspect they might feel they have done the hard work by coming here and getting a draw but there’s no reason why our players can’t believe we can go down there and get a result.”
Turner has the luxury of being able to name an unchanged side but may opt to bring back Richard Rose after the defender missed the weekend match with a virus.
Rose played in the first game against John Still’s men and was replaced at right-back by Toumani Diagouraga on Saturday.
On-loan keeper Matt Murray enjoyed a fine debut against Cheltenham, pulling off some impressive saves, but was signed after the cup deadline so Craig Samson will return.
Turner praised the former England Under 21s stopper’s efforts but was also satisfied with the players at the other end of the field.
He added: “It was a very good performance from the keeper, our attacking play and build-up play was satisfactory and we created chances.
“I was concerned we gave them one or two opportunities in the last half-hour but by then the damage was already done.”
After a strong start, Dagenham have fallen to 10th in League Two following a run of one win in six games. Strikers Paul Benson (9) and Ben Strevens (7) have regularly been among the goals.
Hereford and Dagenham had plenty of clashes in their non-league days, including a stunning 9-0 away win for the Bulls in February 2004.
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