League Preview: Bray Wanderers -v- Longford Town

Friday evening will see Longford Town go up against fellow-strugglers Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.

 

BRAY WANDERERS

Currently sitting on just seven points from their opening 14 games this season, Bray only lie above Longford on goal difference, with the Seagulls’ tally being five goals better off than their opponents on Friday.

 

Looking beyond their current standing in the table, Bray’s attacking woes have really been the story of their season so far, with the Wicklow-based side finding the net on just eight occasions so far in 2016, which is unsurprisingly the worst total of any Premier Division side. Even worse for Harry Kenny’s side is that half of these eight goals came in a 4-0 defeat of Sligo Rovers in March.

 

If they are to add to their goals for column, Friday could be the perfect opportunity to do so, with their visitors holding the unwanted record of having the worst defence in the league.

 

Without a win since caretaker manager Harry Kenny’s first game in charge on April 23, the Wanderers will need to arrest their slump if they are to close the gap on Wexford Youths in 10th place.



 

 

LONGFORD TOWN

Friday’s visitors to the Carlisle will be looking to pick up all three points for just the second time this season, with their only win so far this campaign coming in the opening round of fixtures as they saw off top flight newcomers Wexford.

 

Four draws and nine defeats in the subsequent 13 games sees them rooted to the foot of the table, with a growing inevitability that it will be either them or Bray who fall through the division’s trapdoor and into the First Division come the season’s end.



 

Keeping goals out has been a real concern for Tony Cousins’ men, with his side shipping 33 goals already this season, which is the worst total of any team in the division.

 

Referee: Kevin O’Regan.

 

 

MATCH STATS

Bray’s first point of the season came in their previous meeting this season as the two sides played out a 1-1 draw at the City Calling Stadium. Following Dean Kelly’s opening goal for the Seagulls just after the break, David O’Sullivan leveled the scores just four minutes later.

 

The last time Longford made the trip to Wicklow they left with all three points. A solitary Ayman Ben Mohamed strike was enough to sink the 10-man Seagulls following Peter McGlynn’s eighth minute red card.

 

Bray were unable to beat Longford in any of their three meetings last year, even failing to breach their defence, as the midlands side won 2-0 in March, 1-0 in June and 1-0 again in August.

 

BETTING

Bray Wanderers 5/6; Draw 5/2; Longford Town 3/1.

 

PREDICTION

Not expecting a thriller, but think Bray might just edge it. 2-1.

 

Bray Wanderers

Injured: Mick Daly, Paul Finnegan and Conor Earley.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

 

Longford Town

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: Tristan Noack-Hofmann.