Guiseley boss Mark Bower is confident his side’s luck will start to turn as they prepare to host another big gun in Dagenham at Nethermoor on Saturday.

The Lions have suffered defeat by a single goal at the hands of Eastleigh and Wrexham respectively in their opening two games of the season.

They now host a Daggers side managed by experienced campaigner John Still who are expected to be in the running for promotion this season following their relegation from the Football League last term.

Bower said: “We've definitely been competitive in our opening two games. You look around at some teams have been done three and four-nil and even by six.

“There have certainly been a few hidings handed out but we haven't looked like that against two of the best teams in the league.

“Anyone has been to the two games would not argue if we had got at least a point from either of the games.

“This time last year we were having games against teams who were going to finish in the bottom four.

“Now we are probably facing teams who are going to finish in the top five.

“These games won't be what our season is defined on but obviously we want to pick up as many points as we can against them.

“It's a new team and we don't get loads of time to work with the lads with us being part-time as we are.

“It will take time to gel but as both games have gone on, the lads have got used to each other a little bit more.

“I have seen some decent passages of play and am certainly positive about the way we are playing, even though I'm disappointed we have not picked up any points.

“But I think we are definitely in a better position now than we were this time last year.”

Dagenham boss Still, 66, is a wily old hand and his men will head to Nethermoor still smarting from a 3-0 defeat at Chester in midweek.

Assessing the challenge awaiting his men, Bower added: “It's obviously tough because they are a Football League club who have spent a lot of time up there with a very experienced manager who knows this league inside out.

“They had a bad defeat on Tuesday night and, knowing John Still's reputation, I'm sure he will have them right up for it on Saturday.

“I don't think Dagenham will turn up and think 'I don't fancy this'. They will be up for it and it will be really tough.

“We've just got to approach it like we have the two games previously.

“With a bit of luck, hopefully we can pick up the win that I think we have deserved so far.”

Bower, meanwhile, could not hide his frustration following Tuesday’s agonising 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Wrexham.

Paul Rutherford scored a dramatic injury-time winner for the Dragons and Bower felt refereeing decisions went against his side.

He said: “I'm gutted really to have lost it in the manner we did because it’s a cruel one to take.

“Wrexham are a good side and you saw that in the first half with the way they popped it about.

“They're a possession-based team who move you about and try and open you up.

“Without us having much ball, I thought we dealt with that quite well.

“They had only the two chances and a ridiculous penalty and a ball we gave away in our penalty area.

“They didn't cut us open at any point and we defended quite well.

“I'm just disappointed we didn't have a bit more going forward.

“When we did, we caused them problems and obviously scored a really good goal.

“In the second half, it was a bit more evenly-contested.

“They scored a goal we could probably have defended better, but from that point I thought we were really good.

“They dropped off a bit and that gave us a little bit more room.

“We got the equaliser and if any team looked like winning it, I thought it was us.

“If the lad hits that shot another 20 times, he probably doesn't score many of them.

“Unfortunately for us, it nestles in the corner and maybe we got caught a bit going forward and looking for the win.

“If you allow them to have a pot-shot from 25 yards in the last minute, you're almost inviting trouble.

“It's disappointing but we can't feel sorry for ourselves and have to go again on Saturday.”