League Preview: Derry City -v- Bray Wanderers

DERRY CITY

Friday’s hosts will be looking to put some breathing space between them and their guests, as they aim to consolidate their early season mid-table position rather than falling down into the relegation fight.

The Candystripes have started the season as many will have expected and do not look in any danger of dropping down the table anytime soon, while at the same time they look to be lacking in what it takes to mount any sort of challenge for the European places.

With eight points on the board from their first seven fixtures, it has been a good start to what Derry will want to be comfortable season as the club looks to regain stability after the chaos that surrounded them last year.

Boss Peter Hutton will be pleased to have the majority of his players available for selection, with only a few minor injuries hampering what would be a fully fit squad otherwise.

BRAY WANDERERS

New coach Maciej Tarnogrodzki has turned the Seagulls around since the much talked about departure of Alan Matthews earlier this month. With the club not having scored a goal under his predecessor, Tarnogrodzki has sparked life into the Seasiders and has seen them score seven goals and claim maximum points in their last two outings.

The Wicklow club looked destined to end their stay in the Premier Division under Matthews as they were unable to find the net, but Tomogrodzki’s impact has been immediate and he will look to carry this momentum into the trip north on Friday.

The new manager has had the luxury of welcoming club captain David Cassidy back into the starting line up in his two games in charge, a luxury which evaded Matthews during his tenure this season, and Bray’s upturn in fortunes coinciding with his return is not coincidental.

Tomogrodzki will have a selection headache on his hands as he has a full squad of players to choose from for the trip up to Derry.

Referee: Paul Tuite

MATCH STATS

Bray are without a win against Derry since their FAI Cup fixture in 2010, they are yet to beat them in the league since October 2008.

In total, the sides have met 46 times, with Friday’s hosts claiming victory in 26 of these and losing just six.

The sides are separated by just two points and two places in the league and Bray can leapfrog Derry with a win on Friday.

BETTING

Derry City 8/15; Draw 11/4; Bray Wanderers 11/2.

PREDICTION

Derry City 2 - 1 Bray Wanderers.

Derry City

Injured: Stephen Dooley, Joshua Daniels, Shaun Kelly.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Bray Wanderers

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.