15.00 5 May 2014 -
Referee: Robert Harvey
EA Preview: Bray Wanderers -v- Dundalk
- Josh Dolan
- Mon, May 05 2014
BRAY WANDERERS
The Seagulls host Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk in The EA Sports Cup Second Round at 3pm in The Carlisle Grounds on Monday afternoon.
A brace from Shane Byrne and a Jake Kelly hat-trick helped The Seasiders defeat First Division outfit Shelbourne 5-2 to advance to this stage of the competition.
Alan Mathew’s side come into the game on the back of a stalemate with Athlone Town, a game that The Wanderers could have easily lost if it wasn’t for the heroics of young goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness.
Mathew’s charges will be going into this one looking to show up Stephen Kenny’s side for the second time in 11 days after seeing off The Lilywhites at The Carlisle Grounds in the later stages of last month.
DUNDALK
The Lilywhites travel to the seaside on the back of a 4-0 drubbing of fellow title contenders Cork City. A brace from Patrick Hoban, along with goals from Richie Towell and John Mountney helped the Louth side to the comprehensive victory on Friday night.
Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny is set to hand starts to players that have been on the fringes of The Lilywhite’s squad, however Kenny insists that he will be looking for the players that are selected to continue the exemplary form shown by his side, so far this season.
“We’re in good form. We want to keep our run going and we’re looking forward to going to Bray. Other players are coming in now and getting their opportunity to play. We have to make changes with the amount of games we have but we want to go and keep things going,” Kenny insisted.
Kenny is also excited about the up and coming prospects in the Louth club’s youth set up and The Lilywhites Boss believes that Monday’s EA Sports Cup tie with The Seagulls will be an excellent opportunity for his young players to show case their talents.
“Our youth system is emerging now and our U18’s and U19’s are really doing well and progressing. This is a good opportunity for these players to get game time and show what they can do”
Like his manager Lilywhite midfielder Daryl Horgan believes that The Lilywhites are capable of competing on all fronts and insists that the squad have the will to win every game and competition that they go into.
“Monday is a different kind of game with it being a Cup competition however we are looking forward to it and want to win every competition we enter. We just want to win games so hopefully we can keep our run going,” the winger explained.
Referee: Rob Harvey
MATCH STATS
Dundalk have won the League Cup on four occasions, while The Seagulls are yet to win the domestic cup.
The Wanderers defeated Shelbourne to advance to this stage of the completion, while The Lilywhites received a bye to this round of the competition.
A single Dave Scully goal gave Bray a 1-0 win over Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk in the league tie between the sides last month.
BETTING
Bray Wanderers 5/1; Draw 5/2; Dundalk 8/15
PREDICTION
2-1 victory for The Lilywhites
Bray Wanderers:
Injured: Not Available
Doubtful: Not Available
Suspended: None.
Dundalk:
Injured: Stephen O’Donnell (Knee).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
About Josh Dolan
Josh Dolan is one of our Dublin based reporters, who also helps out with Extratime.ie’s administration tasks.
Josh, who was recommended to us by fellow reporters, joined the site as a teenager …