Peter Jackson does not need the good luck cards on his office windowsill to remind him how much fans want the City boss to succeed.

Everywhere he goes, Jackson is stopped by supporters, friends and neighbours keen to pass on their best wishes and glean the latest gossip.

It comes with the territory as manager of your local club. Living on the doorstep, there is no chance of switching off.

Peter Taylor could escape it all in Essex; no such opportunity for the current gaffer to do the same. But Jackson wouldn’t have it any other way.

“You can never get away from it,” he laughed. “You go to a supermarket or out for a meal and people just want to talk about how we’ve gone in the last game.

“My son works in the area, my daughter and my wife, so all they talk about in the office is Bradford City.

“It probably brings more pressure because I’m here all the time. I don’t have a 50-mile drive out of here.

“But I don’t shirk that responsibility because I love living local. It’s my area and nothing will change that.”

Living in such a goldfish bowl, Jackson appreciates the growing expectancy in the stands. A first win tomorrow against a dangerous Dagenham side would come as a huge relief.

He added: “The fans have been great. You saw the support we had at Accrington.

“There’s always one or two disgruntled but that’s the same with any manager. You could be six points clear and they’d be like that.

“But there is a real feeling of goodwill. The fans really want me to succeed at this job and that’s why I’m so desperate to do well.

“I’m not begging for time but let’s not forget we’re seven weeks in from 12 players leaving and 14 new ones coming in. There has been a huge change here, probably more so than at any club in this division.

“The fans are passionately behind us and I want to lead the club forward. Hopefully that will start tomorrow.”

Dagenham have won two out of three and their direct style has always proved effective at Valley Parade.

Jackson said: “It’s the team that defends best against them that comes out on top.

“We must not give away set-pieces in silly areas. But Accrington had 14 corners and we defended them well.”