League Preview: Dundalk -v- Bray Wanderers

DUNDALK FC

Dundalk kick off the second trimester of league fixtures with a home game against the Bray Wanderers on Tuesday evening (kick off 7.45pm). The Lilywhites put three more points on the board on Friday against Galway United and currently are top of the league table by four points with 11 games played.

The match against (then) fourth place Galway was reminiscent of the Derry City visit, where Dundalk were frustrated with being level on home turf until, with twenty minutes to go, striker David McMillan hit a quick-fire brace to effectively secure the points.

Stephen Kenny knows the approach needed to march towards league glory, and he insisted that his side couldn't afford to view any game as “easier” or of a “lesser difficulty” than the other.

His charges were dominant but inefficient in the first half last week. When they emerged from the tunnel after half time, there was a bit more about them; he told his club's media he wanted to see that from the off against Bray:

“I thought our second half performance against Galway United on Friday was of a really high quality. Our movement and passing at times was really quick. We need to bring that into Tuesday night, right from the start.

“It will be our intention to bring that level of intensity from the beginning. There are no games in this league that you can say is a formality. Everyone can take points off everyone and we have seen that this year. We will have to be at our best to get victory.”

McMillan was the architect of Galway's downfall on Friday and you'd think that effectively being Dundalk's only striker at the moment would be daunting facing into a busy fixture list with three games in eight days. On the contrary, he seems to be relishing the game-time and looking forward to it - no doubt buoyed up by some impressive performances of late:

“The games are really coming at us,” said McMillan speaking to dundalkfc.com. “It’s good to have three games in a week. You want to play as many games as possible.

"Bray have had a change of form since they had a change of management and we had a very difficult game there earlier in the season but we are looking forward to it. We are eager to get the six points on offer next week and hopefully we can and keep our good run going”

BRAY WANDERERS

The Seagulls have had an uphill task of it recently in the league; away to Shamrock Rovers, tackling Cork City at the Carlisle Ground and now to top it all off an away trip to Dundalk.

As per their outing with Rovers, two second half goals were Bray's undoing against Cork City. Sean Maguire and Karl Sheppard struck within a couple of minutes of each other to dismay the Wicklow club's supporters.

There won't be any alarm bells ringing just yet having failed to pick up any points in their last two outings. They did manage an impressive win against St Patrick's Athletic at the end of April.

Bray have been hard to read so far this year. A glut of new signings ahead of this season, allowed Bray fans to hope they might push on from dicing with relegation (a view reflected in our ExtraTime Reporters' Predictions). But currently they sit a single point from the foot of the table.

For Bray to get a result, it's likely that former Lilywhite custodian Peter Cherrie will have to have to be on top form - mind you, his importance in recent endeavors is clearly underlined by his April Player of the Month award - Dundalk have netted 22 times against Bray in their last six league meetings and the Lilywhites seem to be finding their rhythm despite a growing list of injuries at the club.

Referee: Derek Tomney

MATCH STATS

At home Dundalk can win six in a row against the Seagulls for the first time since 1985-91.

Dundalk have five former Bray Wanderers players in their squad – Gary Rogers, Gabriel Sava, Brian Gartland, Chris Shields and Dane Massey.

A clean sheet would see Dundalk keep successive clean sheets against the Seagulls for the first time since 2009

BETTING

Dundalk 1/5; Draw 5/1 ; Bray 14/1.

PREDICTION

Dundalk FC 3 - 1 Bray Wanderers

Dundalk FC

Injured: Ciaran Kilduff (back), Stephen O'Donnell (ankle), Ciaran O'Connor (foot), Patrick McEleney (hamstring), Michael O'Connor (ankle)

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Bray Wanders

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: None.