League Preview: Bray Wanderers -v- Limerick

BRAY WANDERERS

Bray Wanderers welcome second-from-bottom Limerick to the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night looking to pick up just their second win of the season (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Seagulls won for the first time last Monday when they overcame Shamrock Rovers 1-0 at home and they'll look for a repeat performance against the Blues.

Last Friday saw Bray fall to a 3-0 defeat to Waterford at the RSC, with Faysel Kasimi grabbing a brace either side of Derek Daly's first goal of the second in the second half.

“Limerick are a good side with a lot of experienced and quality players in their squad,” said caretaker manager Graham Kelly.

“Tommy has them playing good football and they no doubt will be upbeat after their draw away to Shamrock Rovers last week.”

Looking back on last week’s game away to Waterford Kelly said “First half we played quite well and could easily have been 2-0 up at half time.

“Waterford started the second half brightly and once they went in front we had to chase the game and gamble a bit.”

Jake Kelly joins a lengthy injury list including Aaron Greene, Darragh Gibbons, Darragh Noone and John Sullivan after breaking his foot in Waterford.

LIMERICK

Limerick picked up a valuable point last week away to Shamrock Rovers, which moved them six points clear of Bray at the bottom of the table.

The Blues had plenty of defending to do after Graham Burke had given the Hoops an early lead, and equalised late on through Danny Morrissey.

Cian Coleman received his marching orders for a bad tackle as Limerick looked to hang on in the dying stages, and they managed to see the game out.

“It was good for us to get a point last week, because we had lost a few before that,” manager Tommy Barrett told the club's official website.

“I thought we deserved it in the second half – we were on the front-foot, and it was a really good goal.

“A lot of people were talking about poor Shamrock Rovers defending, but from our point of view it was a really good goal.

“Bray are a decent side. I watched them against Rovers and against Waterford and you can see that they are trying to play. They have some very good footballers. It will be a tough game.

“Bohemians beat them in the last minute. Dundalk beat them 2-0 but it took them a while to break them down, plus they got a point off Dundalk early on, so definitely they’re a better team and they have better players than the four points suggest.”

Coleman will miss the next two games following his straight red in Tallaght, while there are doubts over Connor Ellis, Conor Clifford, Mark O'Sullivan, Darren Dennehy and Danny Kearns.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.

MATCH STATS

Limerick made it two wins from their opening four games when they ran out 1-0 winners at home to Bray in March, thanks to Danny Morrissey's late goal.

The Blues were one of only two teams (Cork City were the other) to go through the 2017 league season undefeated by the Seagulls.

Limerick won won 1-0 in Bray in March and 5-3 at the Market's Field in June, before the final meeting between the sides ended 1-1 by the seaside.

BETTING

Bray Wanderers 5/4; Draw 23/10; Limerick 2/1.

PREDICTION

Bray Wanderers 2 – 0 Limerick

Bray Wanderers

Injured: Darragh Gibbons, Aaron Greene, Jake Kelly, Darragh Noone, John Sullivan.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Limerick

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Conor Clifford (knee), Darren Dennehy (ankle), Connor Ellis (groin), Danny Kearns (quad), Mark O'Sullivan (shoulder).

Suspended: Cian Coleman.