DAGGERS boss John Still claimed that ‘tempo’ and ‘belief’ are the two qualities the team must demonstrate most between now and the end of the season if they are to gatecrash the League Two play-offs.

Dagenham certainly showed plenty of both on Saturday, pressing hard until the death when finally their ambition was rewarded with a goal in the last minute of stoppage time from substitute Graeme Montgomery that ensured they took all three points from Burton Albion and moved up to that coveted seventh spot in the table.

If the Daggers remain there after the final three games of the campaign then they will have achieved their goal of going one better than last year, when they were cruelly denied a play-off place on the last day of the season after Shrewsbury Town leapfrogged them with a 2-1 win at Victoria Road.

The team, who travel to fellow play-off hopefuls Morecambe this Saturday, have given themselves the best possible chance, as the weekend’s victory was the second in five days, following the 4-1 win over Barnet last Tuesday.

Still was understandably delighted, praising his players’ never-say-die spirit after coming back from a goal down in the second half.

“It’s unbelievable, to score at the death is a fantastic feeling,” he said. “I think the victory was down to determination and belief.

“The way we play, it’s difficult to keep playing and playing. It’s a high tempo game and it’s important we play that way, as it becomes hard for teams to defend against it.

“The first half we didn’t have the desire and belief. But the two words we have to focus on is tempo and belief. They’re the two key words for us between now and the end of the season.

“The players will see that we’ve gone up (to seventh) and that will drive us on. We’re still in with a chance with three games to go.”

Still revealed Montgomery had ‘spoiled the script’ with his late intervention, as the 22-year-old winger was brought on to stretch the visitors, rather than pop up in the box to slam the ball home after a goalmouth scramble. He was not complaining, though.

Some stern words were needed at half-time, however, with Burton having gone ahead from a sumptuous curling strike from the boot of Shaun Harrad.

But whatever was said during the break worked a treat. First, Romain Vincelot lumbered forwards before unleashing a speculative 35-yard shot that rifled into the top corner. Game on.

The visitors mysteriously opted to sit back and play for the draw, and they paid the ultimate price, the Daggers profiting after a dose of the Full Monty.