DANNY Scopes is remaining upbeat despite his Concord Rangers side starting pre-season with two consecutive 4-0 home defeats.

The Beach Boys have conceded eight goals in their opening friendlies against Championship side Millwall and Dagenham & Redbridge, of the National League.

Concord have also failed to find the back of the net since returning from their summer holidays, but Scopes has backed his attacking players to take their chances in the clashes ahead.

“I am not worried about the fact we haven’t scored yet,” said Scopes, who succeeded Sammy Moore as boss in May.

“We have created plenty of chances in both games.

“If we can do that against a Championship and very good National League defence, I’m sure we will get goals and cause teams problems.

“Dagenham’s goalkeeper made some good saves to deny us, so I am not worried at all.

“We have four or five attacking players that know where the goal is and I have every confidence that they will start to find the back of the net.

“You never want to lose games of football but the results are irrelevant at the moment. I’m more interested in the performances.”

Dagenham, who are bossed by the Rochford-born former Southend United player and manager Peter Taylor, were able to triumph at the Aspect Arena thanks to a second half hat-trick from Chike Kandi.

A trialist was also on target for the Daggers in an encounter which saw Scopes give some of the Beach Boys’ leading up-and-coming youngsters a chance to stake a claim for a place in his first team squad.

And Scopes felt the teenagers performed well.

“I was pleased with the game and it was just another exercise which allowed the players to get some more minutes on the pitch,” added the Concord chief.

“We looked at a couple of different people in different positions, which is good because it allows us to think about different shapes we can play when the season starts.

“A couple of boys who have been in our under-18s also came on and that was good to see because I am looking to give youth a chance.

“I don’t want to bring in trialists because I would rather get young players coming through the club on the pitch. That will benefit them in the long run.

“We are looking to bring some youngsters through from our age group sides because that would be absolutely massive for the club.

“I want the youth team players to see that there is a pathway into the first team.”