15.00 18 Apr 2014 -
Referee:
League Preview: Bray Wanderers -v- Derry City
- Gareth O'Reilly
- Thu, Apr 17 2014
BRAY WANDERERS
Bray are all set to welcome Derry City to the Carlisle Grounds on Friday evening for a Good Friday game that carries a 5pm kick off time.
A major talking point heading into this game is that the fixture will be officiated by three Welsh officials.
Bray go into the game with a growing injury crises as last Friday Graham Kelly was added to the list of players in the treatment room. That list also contains captain Danny O'Connor, Jake Kelly, Eric McGill, Shane Byrne, Shane O'Connor and Adam Hanlon.
There is some small bit of positive news for boss Alan Matthews as he is set to welcome back goalkeeper Shane Redmond from his suspension.
Despite so many casualties Alan Matthews has every right to be upbeat as his reserve players came up good last week when they caused an upset in United Park
“It was a good result and performance at Drogheda. We will take confidence from that result and we will build on that and take in Friday's game against Derry City.”
DERRY CITY
Roddy Collins men currently sit in 7th in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table having had a slower than expected start to the season. So far the men from the Northern part of the country have won two, drawn three and lost two games.
In order to ensure that Friday really is a Good Friday the Candystripes will have to plan without Ryan McBride, Barry Molloy and Barry McNamee who are all recovering from injuries.
Derry have not lost to Bray since October 2008 so confidence is high around the football club as Roddy Collins told the clubs official website www.derrycityfc.net.
“Bray will be happy enough with the win at Drogheda United last weekend, and their manager Alan Mathews is tactically cute enough. They are playing with six behind the ball but whether they do that at home I don’t know.
“We do know they are going to be hard to break down, but at the end of the day it’s not about Bray it’s about what we do. As I said last week if Athlone play to their best and we play to our best we would beat them and it’s the same with Bray, if we play the best they can and we play the best we can, we will win the game.”
Referee: Iwan Griffith (Wales)
MATCH FACTS
A goal fest may be expected in this one as Bray have conceded the third most goals in the country with only UCD and Athlone Town containing a worse back line.
Last season Derry overcame Bray on all three occasions with the game at the Carlisle Grounds throwing up a 3-2 victory for the Candystripes.
Bray have netted 14 goals this season with nine of them coming in the Seagulls seven league games to date.
BETTING
Bray Wanderers 4.33 Draw 3.40 Derry City 1.80
PREDICTION
Derry to win 2-1
Bray Wanderers
Injured: Graham Kelly, Danny O'Connor (groin), Jake Kelly (ankle), Eric McGill, Shane Byrne, Shane O'Connor (hamstring), Adam Hanlon (knee)
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Derry City
Injured: Barry Molloy (hamstring), Ryan McBride (head), Barry McNamee (Calf)
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
About Gareth O'Reilly
Gareth is the Editor of Extratime.ie. Gareth began as a normal reporter covering games all over Dublin before being asked to help out with behind the scene activities and eventually moving into the role of …