Shamrock Rovers -v- Bray Wanderers

• Eoin Manning
• Thu, Apr 30 2009


In-form Shamrock Rovers welcome Bray Wanderers to their new Tallaght Stadium this Friday night in the League of Ireland Premier Division as the home side look to extend their unbeaten run to six games(Kick Off 7:45pm).

While Rover’s endured a patchy start to their season under the intense media glare that came with the opening of their new magnificent 6,000 seater stadium, they have found some real form of late and in Gary Twigg they possess the league’s current most deadly striker.

Though, things have not gone according to plan for Bray manager Eddie Gormley following a promising start to the season which included a notable scalp of St. Patrick’s Athletic at the Carlisle Grounds. They, like their hosts, are now on a five game streak however, disappointingly for The Seagull’s supporters, it has been a five game winless streak.

Rover’s boss Michael O’Neill has been heaping praise upon his players following their recent ascension up the Premier Division table but is by no means willing to become complacent and is seeking continuous improvement:

“We haven’t lost since Derry mugged us at Tallaght Stadium in the 2-1 game, so the players have reacted positively to that. And we’re getting players back from injury, so that’s making the squad stronger all the time, and the competition for places is increasing. The momentum is there, the players just have to continue with what they’re doing.”

Saving particular praise for red-hot striker Twigg and his partner in crime the evergreen Dessie Baker: “Every time he (Twigg) gets the ball you nearly expect him to score. It’s a fantastic place for a striker to be.”

Adding:” Dessie’s been reborn, to be honest. In terms of his work rate, and his quality, and possession.”

Gormley, meanwhile, has been rather more detached about some of his side’s recent performances instead using the impressive displays of the opposition as motivation in itself for his young side to aspire to:

” To be fair to the players, I mean, the younger players, all you can do is go in and tell them ‘that’s the standard that you have to try and reach’.”

The home side have no new injuries to report ahead of the game while Bray have concerns over defender Stephen Brennan who limped out of last week’s two nil defeat to Bohemians after only 36 minutes.

With both sides desperate for points for very differing reasons it promises to be an intriguing encounter in front of another sell out crowd in Tallaght.

Extratime.ie Prediction: Shamrock Rovers to win 2-1.