18.30 4 Jul 2015 -
Referee: Robert Harvey
League Preview: Limerick -v- Bray Wanderers
- Tom Clancy
- Fri, Jul 03 2015
Winless Limerick look to keep in touch with manager-less Bray Wanderers. The Seagulls visit the Markets Field on Saturday evening. Kick-off is 6.30pm.
LIMERICK
The struggle goes on. Played 17, drew 5, and lost 12. Limerick head into this tie with Bray Wanderers knowing that a seventh SSE Airtricity League defeat in a row would make their quest for survival extremely difficult.
The return of Lee-J Lynch will boost Limerick, particularly in the supply to Dean Clarke. Lynch who was released by Hamilton in March, has been training with Limerick in recent weeks, and is expected to go straight into the side for this game.
Elsewhere, Martin Russell will have to examine winger Ian Turner’s fitness while Paudie O’Connor is back in contention having not played since late May. Midfielder Colm Murphy, yet to feature this season, resumed training this week.
Ali Abass and Prince Agyemang will be available again, the pair being granted international clearance before being unused subs in last weeks heavy defeat to Dundalk.
The game is Limerick's second in Markets Field, with almost 2,500 witnessing a narrow defeat to Drogheda United in early June.
Midfielder Paul O'Conor scored that night and insists that the side are used to their surroundings. "We’ve trained there now a good few times and gotten used to the pitch and the size of it. It’s a quality stadium and quality pitch – probably one of the better pitches in the league.
He also told Limerickfc.ie during the week; “There are no more excuses. There can’t be anymore excuses when you have a ground like that as your home. We’ll certainly try to make use of the size of the pitch and the quality of the pitch."
The return of Lee-J Lynch should give fans and players a lift, Lynch helping Limerick to a respectable run during the second-half of last season.
BRAY WANDERERS
Having leapfrogged Sligo Rovers last week, Bray will be looking to make it back-to-back victories.
The Seagulls secured a victory last weekend which meant that Bray had successfully managed seven points from fifteen since Trevor Croly stepped in.
Discipline has been an issue, with Adam Mitchell absent on Saturday due to suspension.
A 4-0 win over Limerick in April followed by a 3-1 win in the FAI Cup should give the Seasiders the upper hand, but they haven't won any of their visits to Thomond Park in recent years, drawing two and losing one since the Blues came back to the top flight.
Since their 4-4 draw at Thomond Park almost two years ago, Bray have won just three away games. Their trouble on the road must not be ignored, despite the recent revival under Croly.
Referee:Rob Harvey
MATCH STATS
Limerick have not won a Premier Division game for 260 days since they beat Sligo Rovers 1-0 at Thomond Park.
Both sides have had seven goal-scorers (excluding own goals) in the League so far, with Paul O’Conor (3) and David Cassidy (5) top scoring for their sides.
Shane Duggan and David Cassidy, who will captain their sides on Saturday, were sent off when the sides met in March 2014.
BETTING
Limerick 13/10 Draw 21/10 Bray Wanderers 2/1
PREDICTION
Limerick 2-1 Bray Wanderers
Limerick
Injured: Colm Murphy
Doubtful: Ian Tuner (knee)
Suspended: None
Bray Wanderers
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Adam Mitchell.
About Tom Clancy
Introduced to the League of Ireland in 2005, Tom has seen Limerick play at four different grounds down the years. He began writing for Extratime in late 2013 and was delighted to report on the …