JOHN Coleman asked for a response from his players — and the Accrington Stanley manager was not left disappointed.

The Reds had been 2-0 up in midweek against AFC Wimbledon, only to crash 4-3 and lose a second successive match.

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Coleman wanted Stanley to take out their frustrations on struggling Dagenham & Redbridge — and that is exactly what they did, producing a fine performance and a 3-1 win that could, and should, have been far more emphatic.

There were two changes to the team at the Wham Stadium — and within two minutes the Reds were in front. Josh Windass guided a corner to the near post, the ball came out to Seamus Conneely on the left of the area and the Stanley captain smashed in his first goal of the season. It was a start that rocked the visitors, who started the afternoon third from bottom and would end it propping up the Football League.

Not even an injury to Adam Buxton could stop Stanley’s momentum and Anthony Barry slotted in at right-back as the Reds began an onslaught on Liam O’Brien’s goal.

Billy Kee saw a shot blocked, Matt Crooks fired over and Sean McConville slid an effort wide as Coleman’s side looked to double their advantage. And even when Stanley hit the target, O’Brien was in inspired form. The goalkeeper first produced an astonishing save to tip a Crooks volley over his bar, and then parried Piero Mingoia’s low drive.

The visiting supporters could hardly watch — and on the stroke of half-time they had even less incentive to concentrate on the game when the Reds got the second goal their display deserved. Again it was from a corner, after Kee had forced another good save from O’Brien. Windass delivered and Matty Pearson rose highest to head home his first Stanley goal.

Daggers’ boss Wayne Burnett made a double change at the break — but it was more of the same once the teams had kicked-off again. Soon it was 3-0, with Mingoia surging past his man down the right and crossing invitingly for Windass to meet the ball with a perfect header and net his seventh goal of the season.

But for the superb O’Brien it could have become a rout. The in-form Kee thought he had scored when he met a McConville free-kick with a flick header, only to see the keeper turn it over the top. Then it was Mingoia’s turn to be frustrated, as he saw another good shot turned around the post.

Other than the man keeping the goals out, the only other bright spot for the visitors was sub Jodi Jones, who did all the hard work as the visitors pulled back a goal just past the hour. He wriggled beyond Brad Halliday on the right and the ball was helped to Nyron Nosworthy who deprived Jason Mooney of his clean sheet.

Gloss should have been added late on when Nosworthy shoved McConville in the back inside the box when the winger was through on goal — but referee Darren Bond waved play on.