Dean Keates and Peter Taylor are reunited when Wrexham travel to play Dagenham and Redbridge at their Chigwell Construction Stadium on Saturday (3pm).
The two men worked together at Hull City between 2002 and 2004 and Daggers’ manager Taylor, a former Spurs and England player, says: “Dean is an ex-player of mine at Hull City.
“A terrific lad, terrific professional and an extremely honest midfield player.
“I’m glad he has only been in charge at Wrexham for two seconds, He will get his team right and I hope he gets what he wants in two months time.”
Keates’ Dragons face a tough test against a Dagenham team who are in dangerous mood after an ‘embarrassing’ defeat against Carshalton Athletic last weekend.
Wrexham earned their place in the Emirates FA Cup thanks to a 1-0 win against Chesterfield and have been drawn at home to Rochdale in the first round proper.
The Daggers crashed out 2-1 against Carshalton and Taylor said: “I am a touch embarrassed we are not through to the next round.
“I apologise for that. We let the owners down and our supporters down.
“It’s important we show a really good reaction against Wrexham. I am looking for a good, honest and clever performance.”
Wrexham are 21st in the Vanarama National League on 16 points and have earned only two points from the last 12 on offer, while Dagenham are 12th.
JJ Hooper scored Wrexham’s goal against after good work by captain James Jennings Chesterfield in the cup and Keates says: “We just wanted to get through. We needed to win a football match – it’s been disappointing.
“We’ll address the next round nearer to the time. All the focus is on Dagenham this weekend.
“It’s an opportunity, our next game. We want to go there and get something. League-wise, we are nowhere near where we want to be in the division.
“Hopefully the performance will be really good and we will back it up with the three points.”
“I give the lads full credit for showing resilience in the last 10 minutes and putting their bodies on the line.”
Keates and his Dragons team are working hard to cut out errors and he says: “In the last couple of league games, it’s been more individual errors.
“We haven’t really been cut open, but we haven’t been collective as a team and made individual errors.”
Wrexham: (4-1-2-1-2): Lainton, Jennings (capt), Lawlor, Chambers, Horsfield, Barton, Wright (Summerfield 86), Redmond (Young 70), Rutherford, Grant, Hooper (Harris 67). Subs not used: Dibble (gk), Tollitt, Oswell, Carrington.
Chesterfield: (4-4-2): Coddington, Yarney (Wakefield 76), Rowley (McGlashan 65), Spyrou (Denton 71), Mandeville, Nepomuceno, Gerrard, Boden, Smith (capt), Hollis, Sheridan. Subs not used: Buchanan, Evans, McKay, Fondop.
Referee: Joe Hull (Manchester)
Attendance: 2,023 (away 71)
