EX SOUTHEND United winger Damian Scannell wants to start transforming Dagenham and Redbridge’s stuttering season with a shock victory tomorrow.

The Daggers, who were relegated from League One last season, are again struggling towards the foot of the table this time around.

But Scannell is keen to kick start their campaign with an unexpected victory over his former side this weekend.

“Things have to start getting better for us at some stage so hopefully that can be against Southend,” said Scannell. 26.

“We know we’re in for a tough game but Victoria Road isn’t an easy place to come to so hopefully we can cause an upset.”

The game will also see Scannell line up against his old team for the first time since leaving during the summer of 2010.

And he also wants to start improving his own form too.

“It hasn’t really been the greatest of times for me at Dagenham so far,” said Scannell, who made 58 appearances during two and a half seasons with Blues.

“We got relegated from League One last season and I’ve found it hard to adjust to their style of play.

“But it’s a good club with a good set of lads and hopefully things can start to get better for me.”

That aim will begin against Blues tomorrow and the clash will bring back mainly good memories for Scannell.

“Southend is a good club and I really enjoyed my time there,” said the winger.

“It was good fun and it was a real shame we got relegated but that was definitely down to everything going on off the pitch.”

Southend’s squad were paid consistently late that season and Scannell admitted that is also why he had to leave.

“If all that hadn’t been going on then I would probably still be at Southend,” said Scannell, who will be making the 100th professional appearance of his career tomorrow.

“But I had been in non league before coming to the club and really didn’t have much money so it hit me hard when I wasn’t getting paid.

“I was really struggling financially so that’s why I had to leave, which was a shame. "

FULL STORY IN FRIDAY'S ECHO