1. Lucas Covolan continues to impress between the sticks.
Once again, Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Covolan was a key performer for the Gulls and the stunning one-handed stop he made to deny Daggers' wide man James Dobson in the 54th minute was instrumental in keeping United level. The Brazilian also made a number of fairly routine saves throughout the match and in a week in which manager Gary Johnson that he believed he had two number one keepers in Covolan and Shaun MacDonald, Covolan firmly staked his claims against the Daggers.
2. Frank Vincent stepped up to the plate.
With Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Armani Little both absent through injury, and Jake Andrews only able to start from the bench, much of United's creativity from midfield rested on the shoulders of Bournemouth loanee Frank Vincent. It was a responsibility that the young London-born midfield schemer didn't shirk, as he passed the ball and generally looked comfortable in possession - a style befitting a player whose footballing education has been under the guidance of Eddie Howe. There is more to come from Vincent in the 2019-20 campaign for sure.
3. Has Gary Johnson unearthed a diamond in Matt Buse?
In his first start for United since joining in the summer from Taunton Town, Matt Buse made his first start and produced a very impressive display. Buse had previously appeared as a substitute in the Gulls' last two fixtures against Harrogate Town and Chesterfield and he very nearly marked his first ever start for United with a goal as he fired wide in the 26th minute, following a short corner routine involving Ben Whitfield and Frank Vincent. As the game wore on, Buse displayed a good range of passing and could also be seen dashing back to help shield the United defence.
It might be early days in his Torquay United career, but Buse could do well to follow the example of another former Gulls' midfielder who was picked up from South West non-league football in Kevin Hill. After joining United from Torrington Town in 1997, Hill became the Gulls' all-time record appearance maker with 474 before signing for Dorchester Town in 2008, and if Buse goes on to make even half of that number of appearances for United he would have done well.
4. A second clean sheet.
Remarkably United's clean sheet against the Daggers was only the second that they kept this season since returning the National League, and it was also completed with what was a makeshift defence.
The Gulls went into the game with a back five which consisted of Ben Wynter at right-back, a three-man central defence of Robbie Cundy, Joe Lewis and skipper Kyle Cameron with Liam Davis at left-back. Manager Gary Johnson then reverted to a flat back four at half-time after Lewis was replaced by Ruairi Keating, as he looked to give United a greater threat going forwards. However, once again the United backline were able to do their respective jobs to prevent the Daggers drawing what would could have been a decisive first blood.
5. A fixture that represents the strength in depth of English football - in the managerial department.
If ever there was a fixture that represented the strength in depth of the English footballing pyramid structure then it is Torquay United versus Dagenham & Redbridge - an encounter that saw two former international managers go head to head in Gary Johnson and Peter Taylor.
Johnson managed the Latvian national side between 1999 and 2001 before going onto enjoy a club managerial career with Yeovil Town, Bristol City, Peterborough United, Northampton Town, Cheltenham Town and the Gulls. Taylor, of course, famously managed England for a friendly against Italy in 2000 in which he became the first Three Lions boss to hand David Beckham the captain's armband, after a fairly successful spell in charge of the Under-21s. In addition to this, Taylor also had a brief spell in charge of Bahrain between 2011 and 2012.
Then there is the small matter of the 11 promotions that they have won between them. Johnson's current total stands at six: Yeovil (National League 2002-03, League Two 2004-05 and League One 2012-13), Bristol City (League One 2006-07), Cheltenham (National League 2015-16) and Torquay (National League South 2018-19) and Taylor is currently on five: Gillingham (League One 1999-00), Brighton and Hove Albion (League One 2001-02), Hull City (League Two 2003-04 and League One 2004-05) and Wycombe Wanderers (League Two 2008-09).
