Defences hold firm in trapdoor tussle

This was a result that neither side wanted, but both would take. Defeat for either Plymouth Argyle or Dagenham and Redbridge would have put a sizable dent into their quest to avoid the fall off the Football League precipice, but nobody was about to relinquish any ground at Home Park.

It was a frustrating afternoon for everyone involved, the players who had been training in the hope of grasping a season changing win, and the fans, for whom the match had been billed as the biggest of the season. In hindsight, after Saturday's dour displays, it should simply have been the biggest of the season yet.

It was the home side, unbeaten in three and coming off the back of a morale boosting 4-0 win at Accrington, who edged an even first half, before running much of the second, striking the left-hand upright twice within a minute.

The game was low on quality and high on ball trajectory, containing all the hallmarks of a match between two teams fighting for their lives, a scenario that Pilgrims boss Carl Fletcher had predicted in the build up:

"We knew it was going to be scrappy," said the rookie manager. "We spoke all week that we were going to have to earn the right to play and scrap away, and that it was going to be an ugly game.

"We were well aware what was coming and that we had to be patient and, to be fair, the lads have done everything but score a goal. We had three great chances in the first half, hit the post in the twice in the second half and the keeper has pulled off a couple of saves."

But, above all, Fletcher defined the synopsis for his battling squad: "It was vital that we didn't lose; that was a big one for us."

Trepidation was the word of the day and fractured nerves were on show, Maxime Blanchard gave away an early free kick after fouling Jon Nurse 25 yards out; Matt Saunders shot from the resultant dead ball too weak to really trouble Argyle custodian Jake Cole

Nick Chadwick had the first notable effort from open play, blazing over with a sweeping shot following a low cross from the right, owing to a frustrating opening period for the bullish striker who, along with partner Alex MacDonald, found the assistant referee's flag the most challenging opponent.

The advertising hoardings behind either goal were seeing more of the ball than the keepers gloves, Greens captain Paul Wotton dragging a long range drive off target, Nurse failing to get enough purchase on his header, glancing Damien McCrory's left-wing cross wide of the goal for the Daggers.

With the break swiftly approaching, Conor Hourihane wasted the best opportunity of the lot for the Pilgrims. In a situation similar to Chadwick's early profligate strike, the Irish midfielder produced the same end result, skying the ball into the swathes of empty seats between the home and away fans, all the while under little defensive pressure.

When referee Dean Whitestone blew to resume the game, Argyle began to take the initiative. Within seconds of the restart Hourihane had another chance to put the Devon club into the lead, though his final shot was hit straight at debutant Jonathan Bond.

Brian Woodall's effort soared into his own fans at the other end, but it proved only seconds of respite as Ashley Hemmings and Robbie Williams both tried their luck for Plymouth, though their gambles did not pay off.

Each side made only two of their allotted substitutions, but it was Argyle's Luke Daley who had the biggest impact. He and Marcus Bignot attempted to work a move on the right-hand side of the penalty area, and though Dagenham broke it up, the ball squirmed into Daley's path, catching the visiting defence on the back foot and almost resulting in the lead, the wingers prod cannoning off the post.

Not 50 seconds had passed before the woodwork was rattling again. Williams, running on to a half cleared corner, could not have caught his left foot drive any sweeter, though neither could it have hit the post more emphatically.

Bond still had to be on hand to tip two further long range strikes round the post - MacDonald and Williams the players once again denied - the game finally petering out with a host of free kicks during the four minutes of stoppage time, leaving both teams frustrated, but Dagenham feeling slightly better of the two, even though they remain the team propping up the Football League.

John Still underlined Plymouth's recent results, while also sticking to his philosophy on playing the game.

"They've been on a decent run of form and they're a big club, regardless of their league position," said Still, "but we stuck at it and worked hard."

"They had two good efforts in the second half that hit the post without putting us under any sustained pressure. We never try to draw, the changes we made were to bring on attacking players. We want to remain positive."