DAGGERS number two Terry Harris has vowed that the team will dust themselves down and pick themselves up in time for Saturday's visit of Rochdale, after the side suffered their first defeat in seven games at the hands of Exeter City on Tuesday.

John Still's men remain embroiled in the promotion scrap, although the 2-1 loss, combined with Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Barnet, has seen them slip back out of the play-off places.

The team are locked on 39 points with Shrewsbury and Rochdale, making this weekend's clash all the more crucial, as each side vies for a place in the coveted top seven.

And Harris, while reluctant to get carried away by his team's promotion chances, was confident the players would approach Saturday with renewed vigour.

“We had our chances (on Tuesday) but we couldn't find that final ball, which is most unlike us,” said the assistant manager.

“We're normally very sharp in that department but it just didn't happen for us tonight.

“All credit to Exeter, they battled well tonight.

“We've been on a good run and hopefully this is just a blip. We'll dust ourselves down, move on and get ready for a big game on Saturday.”

Dagenham can consider themselves unfortunate not to have come away with at least a point against the Grecians, as they enjoyed plenty of the ball but failed to make the most of their chances in front of goal.

Magnus Okuonghae brought down striker Craig McAllister in the 27th minute and the visiting striker scored at the second attempt after his initial spot kick was saved by Tony Roberts.

A slick Daggers move on the stroke of half-time saw Scott Griffiths cross for Ben Strevens to prod home his tenth goal of the season.

But Exeter hit back immediately after the break, with McAllister pulling away from his marker before sweeping in Steve Tully's cross.

The hosts huffed and puffed for the remainder of the second period but they couldn't blow the away side's defences down, with debutant Troy Archibald-Henville a colossus at the heart of the resistance.

Paul Jones in the Exeter goal flapped a cross onto his own crossbar, while Sam Saunders found the same spot with a powerful header in the dying embers of the game.

Strevens had his fierce volley saved at the near post and it was evident it wasn't going to be Dagenham's night.

Harris is aware that the Daggers face a crucial period in the coming weeks as the fixture schedule begins to take its toll with games coming thick and fast, twice a week.

“We’re not getting carried away with anything,” he added. “It’s just a case of taking each game as it comes because there are going to be a lot of them.”