20.00 29 Apr 2016 -
Referee: Tomas Connolly
League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Bray Wanderers
- Macdara Ferris
- Thu, Apr 28 2016
SHAMROCK ROVERS
The priority for Shamrock Rovers on Friday evening will be reverting to winning ways against Bray Wanderers, after three defeats in their last four league games have left the Hoops in sixth place in the table (kick off 8pm).
The Dalymount Park Dublin derby demolition of Bohemians seems a long time ago, set against the recent defeats to Derry City, Dundalk and Cork City. Monday’s 2-0 loss on Leeside came at an additional cost to the Hoops with Pat Fenlon confirming to extratime.ie during the week that Luke Byrne will miss the rest of the season due to a cruciate knee injury sustained in that game.
“He has got a very serious injury,” said Rovers manager Pat Fenlon. “He is going to be out for a long time. He did his cruciate and lateral knee ligament.”
Fenlon was unhappy with his teams start to the game which saw them concede within 26 seconds before letting in another goal on 13 minutes. “You can’t go down there give sloppy goals away early and give them a head start.”
The Hoops boss will at least be able to call on Gary McCabe on Friday as the midfielder has served his one match suspension he picked up following his red card in last Friday’s 2-0 defeat to Dundalk at Tallaght.
With four league losses the Hoops now have as many defeats in the SSE Premier Division as they did all of last season. However they have won every other game in the league, having yet to draw a match in the nine league games to date. So while they sit sixth in the table, they are not too far off the pace - they are seven points off the top of the table.
They also now have a series of five league fixtures against sides all below them in the table. They play an EA Sports Cup Quarter Final away on Bank Holiday Monday (at 5pm due to another problem with the Tolka Park floodlights). The then take on Longford Town (A), Sligo Rovers (H), Wexford Youths (A) and Finn Harps (H).
“We’ve got a tough game on Friday against Bray. They’ve changed their manager and had a good win last weekend against St. Pat’s (winning 1-0) so we have to make sure we are at it on Friday.”
BRAY WANDERERS
The Seagulls’ managerial troubles were eased with last week’s 1-0 win over St. Patrick’s Athletic. Bray have also been boosted this week by the appointment of former Ireland international Liam O’Brien as assistant to Harry Kenny who is caretaker manager following Mick Cooke’s departure.
Having earned only four points from the first eight games of the league campaign, the three points picked up against Pat’s were very valuable last week, especially as they had come into the game without scoring in their previous three matches.
They couldn’t build on that league win in the Leinster Senior Cup though when they were dumped out by non-league opposition Collinstown (who defeated Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght in the previous round).
The last time Bray hosted Rovers, the sides played out a 2-2 draw with the Seagulls coming back from two goals down to rescue a point. John Sullivan got the equaliser six minutes into injury time after Hugh Douglas had scored the first for Bray on 71 minutes. Douglas’ red card against St. Pat’s last week means he will miss Friday’s game.
Referee: Tomas Connolly.
MATCH STATS
The Hoops have yet to draw a competitive game this year.
Rovers have played 11 competitive games this season but in none of those matches have both teams scored.
Bray lost twice to Rovers last season – a 3-0 defeat in the Carlisle Grounds in April with Rovers winning in September in Tallaght thanks to a Brandon Miele goal.
BETTING
Shamrock Rovers 4/9; Draw 3/1; Bray Wanderers 7/1.
PREDICTION
2-0 home win.
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: David O'Connor, Luke Byrne.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Bray Wanderers
Injured: Mick Daly, Conor Earley, Alan Byrne, Paul Finnegan.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Hugh Douglas.
About Macdara Ferris
Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl …