UCD -v- Bray Wanderers

UCD

UCD will look to continue their fine home form when they welcome Bray Wanderers to Belfield on Friday evening. Despite suffering defeat thanks to an injury time goal last time out against Sligo, the Students will be full of confidence heading into this game.

The home side will have to do without influential midfielder Paul Corry once again as he continues to nurse an ankle injury. Mark Langtry was the match winner on the opening night against Cork but he will be watching from the stands with a foot injury, joining long term absentees Gary Burke and Samir Belhout on the sidelines.

Despite his sides’ good start to the season, UCD boss Martin Russell is not taking anything for granted. "They [Bray] are always competitive, there is a fair amount of lads there from last year and they know the ropes, as I said they beat us four in a row last year so I am not expecting an easy result by any stretch."

Russell also added that there were a lot of positives to take from last week’s last gasp defeat at the Showgrounds. “If we could bottle that performance we wouldn't be far wrong, we would definitely win more games than we lose.”

BRAY WANDERERS

Pat Devlin’s Bray side have lost both of their games so far and have yet to find the net this campaign. They suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Derry last Friday but a win against Longford on Monday in the Leinster Senior Cup might improve confidence heading into this local derby.

Sean Houston scored a hat trick against the Students last year but the defender is an injury worry with a hamstring complaint. Veteran defender Colm Tresson is a doubt with a foot injury while Pierce Sweeney is suspended. Pat Devlin will have ‘keeper Darren Quigley available after it was confirmed his red card was overturned meaning defender Pierce Sweeney is instead suspended.

The Bray manager knows the importance of the game despite it being the third game of the campaign. “This is an early season six pointer . It's a game we need to get something out of, we certainly don't want to lose. Games between ourselves and UCD are usually very tight and difficult to predict and I expect this will be no different”

Referee: Paul McLoughlin.

MATCH STATS

Bray defeated U.C.D. on four occasions last season scoring nine goals while conceding just two.

In the last ten meetings between the sides Bray have won six while the Students have won three.

PREDICTION

It will be a tight game but UCD’s home advantage will be key: 2-0 UCD

BETTING

UCD 4/6; Draw 5/2; Bray 4/1.

UCD Injury News: Paul Corry (foot), Gary Burke (back), Samir Belhout (foot), Tomas Boyle (back), Sean Russell (back), Mark Langtry (foot).

UCD Suspension News: None.

Bray Wanderers Injury News:  Sean Houston (hamstring), Colm Tresson (foot), Shane O’Connor (groin).

Bray Wanderers Suspension News: Pierce Sweeney.