League Preview: Bray Wanderers -v- Derry City

BRAY WANDERERS

A tasty affair awaits on Friday night as fourth-place Bray Wanderers host third-place Derry City at the Carlisle Grounds (kick-off 7.45pm).

Bray Wanderers come into this game having failed to win any of their last five league games. They are currently lying in fourth place in the table and are the second highest goal scorers in the division with 35 league goals scored in 18 games to date.

Only runaway league leaders Cork City have scored more goals but only Finn Harps have conceded more goals in the league, with Wanderers having conceded 31 goals so far.

The Seagulls have played eight home league games and 10 away games so far. The home games have resulted in four wins, two draws and two defeats.

With poor results the norm over the last few weeks meaning disappointment for Seagull fans, frustration is probably a more appropriate term to use after their last result against Limerick.

2-0 down thanks to Limerick's Chiedozie Ogbene after 19 minutes, they did very well to level the game six minutes later. Rodrigo Tosi restored the home side's lead before the half time whistle.

Gary McCabe made it 3-3 from the penalty spot with 20 minutes left. Unfortunately for Bray though, they capitulated defensively in the last five minutes and conceded twice to lose 5-3.

A thrilling contest if a neutral, but in truth it was a familiar story of the Wicklow club’s season. They have no problem finding the net, but it’s keeping them out that seems to be the problem. This is evidenced by the fact that they have only three clean sheets all season and as mentioned, having conceded a whopping 31 goals.

That result came days after a 2-0 away loss to Shamrock Rovers, in a game brought forward due to Rovers’ Europa League commitments next month.

Boss Harry Kenny is anticipating a tough game with Derry however and says how happy he was with the mid-season break coming in the midst of their poor run.

'We're looking forward to getting back to league action after the mid-season break. The break was very much welcomed after playing five games in two weeks.

“We need to improve our results and stop conceding goals if we're to maintain our position in the table starting with a positive performance against Derry on Friday night.”

They will have to make do without Dylan Connolly and John Sullivan for this game. Energetic winger Connolly is a big blow as he, along with McCabe, are game changers.

Centre back Sullivan is also a big miss in the heart of defence. Both players have accumulated five yellow cards each, meaning they are a part of a huge banned list for Gameweek 18.

With the break undoubtedly coming at a good time for the club, there is no better way to get over the poor form by facing a team they are a point behind (albeit having played a game more) and by putting in a solid performance to boot.

DERRY CITY

Derry City come into this game on the back of an unbeaten league run of ten games.

Their league record after 17 games reads: seven wins, seven draws and three losses.

The Candystripes won their first four games and looked solid, until the tragic passing of captain Ryan McBride coincided with a dip in fortunes.

A seven-game winless run followed but they stopped the rot on May 5^th with a 2-0 home win over Bohemians. They have remained unbeaten ever since, including a home win over Shamrock Rovers on the 19^th of May.

Last time out, they beat Galway United 2-1 in Buncrana. Goals from Ronan Curtis and Nathan Boyle in the fifth and ninth minute meant Gary Shananan's 25^th minute streak was just a mere consolation in the end for Galway.

The game itself was very entertaining and the result lifted the Candystripes up to third, at the expense of Friday night’s opponents.

Their away form this season shows two wins, five draws and just one away defeat from their eight away games so far. They have only scored seven times in those eight away games but have only conceded six away goals.

This goes to show that they are very much a solid defensive team on their travels and set up for a draw and to counter attack.

Can the Candystripes maintain their unbeaten streak against the free-scoring Seagulls? It is very much an attack vs defence game in store at the Carlisle Grounds, so the answer to that question will be answered soon.

MATCH FACTS

There has been 38 games between the pair in this fixture; Derry winning 21 to Bray’s 5 wins. 12 draws have played out between the pair.

There is an average of 2.6 goals in this fixture.

The Seagulls are winless in five games, since beating Finn Harps 3-0 in Gameweek 13, whereas Derry are unbeaten in 10 (3W 7D).

The last time the two sides met in the league, it was an emotional affair: the first game Derry played after the tragic passing of their skipper Ryan McBride. The game finished 3-2 to the away side at Maginn Park.

Bray’s last five results: LLDDL

Derry’s last five results: WDDWD

Referee: Robert Hennessy

MATCH BETTING

Bray Wanderers 7/5; Draw 12/5; Derry City 15/8

PREDICTION

Bray Wanderers 1-1 Derry City

Bray Wanderers

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Dylan Connolly, John Sulllivan.

Derry City

Injured: Rpry Patterson.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: None.