League Preview: Bray Wanderers -v- Sligo Rovers

BRAY WANDERERS

Bray Wanderers go into Friday night’s tie with Sligo Rovers at the Carlisle Grounds (kick-off 7.45pm) aiming to gain three points in order to put the chasing pack at bay.

A 2-1 home defeat on Friday against Bohemians and a 0-0 draw away to Drogheda on Tuesday has seen Wanderers come under pressure from the teams behind them: Derry City, Shamrock Rovers and Limerick.

Those three sides have all gained more points than the Seagulls from those two games so it is vitally important that they get back to winning ways tonight.

Last time out at their Wicklow venue, two well-taken goals by Bohs striker Dinny Corcoran in the first half gave his side the victory, after Tim Clancy had given the Bray side the lead in the 22^nd minute.

They followed this disappointing result up with a tepid 0-0 draw away to struggling Drogheda United. The Drogs were in dismal form going into the game, so it was surprising that a team laced with talent like Bray's couldn’t find a way through.

Looking back on those last 2 games and ahead to tonight’s fixture, Bray Wanderers head coach Harry Kenny told the official club website: “We need to try and get back to winning ways against Sligo Rovers on Friday. We weren’t at our best in both the Bohs and Drogheda games. The Bohemians keeper was very good on the night and made some excellent saves.

“A draw in Drogheda was a fair result on Tuesday night, with a clean sheet being a positive to take from the game.

“John Sullivan came off early in that game with a back injury and is doubtful for Friday's game while Darragh Noone is still out with a thigh strain.”

The likes of Gary McCabe, Dylan Connolly and Aaron Greene need to be on form if they are to get the win.

If Bray have any aspirations of finishing in second place, they need to be beating these type of teams in order to close the gap on three-in-a-row champions Dundalk.

They are two points off the Lilywhites, but with Dundalk facing a tough game away to St Patrick’s Athletic, their positions could well change after tonight.

Kick off in the Carlisle Grounds is at 7:45pm.

SLIGO ROVERS

The Bit o’ Red were 3-2 winners over Bray at the Showgrounds earlier in the season but are looking to improve a moderate record at the Carlisle Grounds, including two 4-0 defeats last year.

Last time out, Gerard Lyttle's side put in a brave and gutsy performance against the league leaders, Cork City, but was in vain after surrendering a 1-0 lead by losing by two goals to one.

A first half penalty by talisman Kieran Sadlier wasn’t enough, as ex-Sligo man Achille Campion and Kevin O'Connor both scored in the second half to ensure the Bit o'Red could not follow up on their good draw at St Pats three days earlier.

Gerard Lyttle told his club’s official website how frustrated he was with the loss:

“It was so disappointing on Monday. You would accept if you lost the game in a manner where you are cut open with a good passing move but I don’t think Cork will get two easier goals all season.

“The first one was errors from three or four players and then straight in from a corner. We were all frustrated but I do think we are getting there.

“When Cork have to really adapt their tactics, make changes and adjust their game to just narrowly beat you, it shows we are getting somewhere and we need to start converting our good play into points on the board.”

The former Cliftonville manager was complimentary when discussing tonight’s opponents:

“It’s another massive test. We had them watched, I watched them myself on Tuesday night, and they are not in a false position by any means.

“They have individual players to win matches, they have goals throughout the team despite not scoring on Tuesday. They may have dropped some points in the last couple of weeks but they will continue to win games throughout the season and we have to play at a high level to come away with something.”

He said on his time of the club so far and working with just 12 available players against St Pat’s/Dundalk:

“I can see the progress in the team. I just really wish I had come in earlier to be honest. I wish I had that extra few weeks because early on we have had to work on the fitness of the players.

“It wasn’t what it should be if I’m honest and match fitness has started to come, especially with the amount of games we have played in the last few weeks.

“I have had to control the training too with that busy schedule, you could see with the likes of Raffaele Cretaro. I didn’t want him to play for 90 minutes against Dundalk.

“But we simply had no choice because of our squad size and then the following week in training it catches up with him in the early part of the week.”

In team news, Daniel Kearns is out with a thigh injury. John Russell is doubtful as his wife is due to give birth to their first child in the next 24 hours and may not travel. 

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

MATCH FACTS

After only keeping one clean sheet in their first 12 league games, Bray now have two in their last three fixtures.

The sides have met each other competitively 37 times, Bray winning 8 to the Bit o'Reds' 19. There has been 8 draws.

The goals per game average is 2.6 in this fixture.

Bray's last five in the league: DLWDL

Sligo's last five in the league: LDLWD

PREDICTION

Bray Wanderers 2-1 Sligo Rovers

MATCH BETTING

Bray Wanderers 8/11; Draw 11/4; Sligo Rovers 15/4.

Bray Wanderers

Injured: Darragh Noone (thigh)

Doubtful: John Sullivan (back)

Suspended: Unknown

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Daniel Kearns (thigh)

Doubtful: John Russell

Suspended: Unknown