Bray Wanderers -v- UCD
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Bray Wanderers will be looking to maintain their recent excellent form when they welcome Martin Russell's side to the Carlisle Grounds on Friday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).
With 10 points from 12 in the league in their last four encounters, there is every chance that the Wicklow side (who are now off the bottom of the table) will continue to push towards securing their top-flight status for another year.
Their most recent clash with The Students came last month, when Bray overcame UCD in Belfield on a score line of 3-2, which was their first win in the Dublin 4 venue in nine visits. Bray's hand will be slightly weakened though, as they will be missing young stalwarts Jake Kelly, Shane O'Neill and John Mulroy because of hamstring injuries picked up in last Monday's win against Dundalk. They will also be without defender Sean Houston, who is serving a one-match ban having reached four penalty points for the season.
Speaking during the week, Director Of Football Pat Devlin stated that he was very pleased with the three points that his side picked up on Monday evening.
"Dundalk are a good side and Monday's win was probably our best result all season considering it was our fourth game in eight days and it now has left us with three players injured and likely to miss Friday's game", Devlin remarked.
Looking ahead to the game against UCD, Devlin feels that it will be an extremely tough game, especially when you take into account the players that will be missing from the match-day squad.
"Friday's game is another big game for us, it will be very tough. I'd liked to have had a full squad to pick from, but it doesn't look like it. So, it will be very, very tough", Devlin added.
UCD, on the other hand, had been struggling for points recently until their hard-earned win over St. Patrick's Athletic in their last match . Until then, they had been on a run of seven games without a win in the league, and will be looking to pick up another three points against a side they have beaten three times in the Premier Division so far this season (with 1-0, 6-0 and 4-0 wins respectively).
The Students are hoping to welcome UCD central defender Andy Boyle back into their side, after he successfully came through the full 90 minutes of an Under-20 game against Wexford Youths on Wednesday evening. Boyle has been suffering from a knee injury recently, and he will undergo a late fitness test before any decision is made on his involvement.
His return would be welcomed as Brian Shortall will be missing after being given an additional suspension, and he will be joined on the sidelines by Ciaran Nangle, who is not quite ready to resume action after his recent knee ligament injury. Sean Harding will also miss out, as he is still in rehab, but Mick Kelly will offer some much-needed defensive options, and Gareth Matthews will more than likely be involved, as his last minute injury in Wednesday night's game proved less serioud than first expected.
Though UCD have gotten much the better of Bray in their three league meetings this season, boss Russell is quick to point out that this is a much-improved Bray side that they will be facing on Friday.
"This is not the same Bray Wanderers team we met in the League earlier this season. Pat Devlin has made a number of key signings and has his lads buzzing. But we have the talent necessary to win this game and it's up to us to demonstrate that", Russell said during the week.
With both sides having displayed plenty of confidence in their most recent league wins, this should make for a very lively encounter indeed. Bray have come into form at exactly the right point in the season, but it remains to be seen for how long they can keep their form up. Though they have dropped nine points to UCD this campaign, they have beaten them in both the Leinster Senior Cup and the FAI Cup since then, so they should approach this game without too much apprehension.
At the same time, Russell will be hoping that his side can finish the season well and they certainly have the players at their disposal to do it. This should lead to a very tight and intriguing game, which may well end with the sides sharing the spoils.
Venue: Carlisle Grounds, Bray.
Referee: D. Tomney.
Paddypower.com odds: Bray Wanderers 6/5, UCD 15/8, Draw 11/5.
BRAY WANDERERS
Injured: Jake Kelly, Shane O'Neill, John Mulroy.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Sean Houston.
UCD
Injured: Ciaran Nangle, Sean Harding.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Brian Shortall.
Extratime.ie prediction: Bray Wanderers 2-2 UCD.
With 10 points from 12 in the league in their last four encounters, there is every chance that the Wicklow side (who are now off the bottom of the table) will continue to push towards securing their top-flight status for another year.
Their most recent clash with The Students came last month, when Bray overcame UCD in Belfield on a score line of 3-2, which was their first win in the Dublin 4 venue in nine visits. Bray's hand will be slightly weakened though, as they will be missing young stalwarts Jake Kelly, Shane O'Neill and John Mulroy because of hamstring injuries picked up in last Monday's win against Dundalk. They will also be without defender Sean Houston, who is serving a one-match ban having reached four penalty points for the season.
Speaking during the week, Director Of Football Pat Devlin stated that he was very pleased with the three points that his side picked up on Monday evening.
"Dundalk are a good side and Monday's win was probably our best result all season considering it was our fourth game in eight days and it now has left us with three players injured and likely to miss Friday's game", Devlin remarked.
Looking ahead to the game against UCD, Devlin feels that it will be an extremely tough game, especially when you take into account the players that will be missing from the match-day squad.
"Friday's game is another big game for us, it will be very tough. I'd liked to have had a full squad to pick from, but it doesn't look like it. So, it will be very, very tough", Devlin added.
UCD, on the other hand, had been struggling for points recently until their hard-earned win over St. Patrick's Athletic in their last match . Until then, they had been on a run of seven games without a win in the league, and will be looking to pick up another three points against a side they have beaten three times in the Premier Division so far this season (with 1-0, 6-0 and 4-0 wins respectively).
The Students are hoping to welcome UCD central defender Andy Boyle back into their side, after he successfully came through the full 90 minutes of an Under-20 game against Wexford Youths on Wednesday evening. Boyle has been suffering from a knee injury recently, and he will undergo a late fitness test before any decision is made on his involvement.
His return would be welcomed as Brian Shortall will be missing after being given an additional suspension, and he will be joined on the sidelines by Ciaran Nangle, who is not quite ready to resume action after his recent knee ligament injury. Sean Harding will also miss out, as he is still in rehab, but Mick Kelly will offer some much-needed defensive options, and Gareth Matthews will more than likely be involved, as his last minute injury in Wednesday night's game proved less serioud than first expected.
Though UCD have gotten much the better of Bray in their three league meetings this season, boss Russell is quick to point out that this is a much-improved Bray side that they will be facing on Friday.
"This is not the same Bray Wanderers team we met in the League earlier this season. Pat Devlin has made a number of key signings and has his lads buzzing. But we have the talent necessary to win this game and it's up to us to demonstrate that", Russell said during the week.
With both sides having displayed plenty of confidence in their most recent league wins, this should make for a very lively encounter indeed. Bray have come into form at exactly the right point in the season, but it remains to be seen for how long they can keep their form up. Though they have dropped nine points to UCD this campaign, they have beaten them in both the Leinster Senior Cup and the FAI Cup since then, so they should approach this game without too much apprehension.
At the same time, Russell will be hoping that his side can finish the season well and they certainly have the players at their disposal to do it. This should lead to a very tight and intriguing game, which may well end with the sides sharing the spoils.
Venue: Carlisle Grounds, Bray.
Referee: D. Tomney.
Paddypower.com odds: Bray Wanderers 6/5, UCD 15/8, Draw 11/5.
BRAY WANDERERS
Injured: Jake Kelly, Shane O'Neill, John Mulroy.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Sean Houston.
UCD
Injured: Ciaran Nangle, Sean Harding.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Brian Shortall.
Extratime.ie prediction: Bray Wanderers 2-2 UCD.
About Daire Walsh
Daire Walsh began reporting for Extratime in 2009, when he covered Kildare County's games in the League Of Ireland First Division. He currently reports on games involving the league's Dublin sides and also Bray Wanderers. … View Full Profile