Dundalk -v- Bray Wanderers

• Emmet Maloney
• Sun, Apr 25 2010


Bottom of the table Bray Wanderer’s travel to Oriel Park this Monday evening to face top of the table Dundalk (kick off 7.45pm).

Eddie Gormley takes his boys to Co Louth with nothing to lose. Their record of a single point so far this season, incidentally picked up in Louth at Drogheda, has been harsh on them. They were 1-0 losers at Shamrock Rovers last time out when again with a better rub of the green they might have stolen a draw.

Meanwhile the Ian Foster revolution at Dundalk is gathering pace after a hard earned but rare victory over Bohemians took them level with Pats at the top and they are only headed due to the Inchicore sides superior defensive record.

Lilywhites guarded but determined
The Lilywhites held their shape and discipline superbly against Bohemians whilst recording their 1-0 victory. Dundalk left back and assistant manager Wayne Hatswell was understandably delighted as he spoke to Extratime after the match but was still not under estimating the threat that Bray will pose.

“They’ll be tough to beat, a tough nut to crack, we found it difficult down there the first game of the season so it won’t be easy. We’ve got to take what we’ve done tonight into Monday night. If we don’t produce Monday all the hard work tonight is out of the window. So it’s a massively important game, we need to look to get another three points.”

Sadly for Dundalk the victory came at a price when their influential midfielder JJ Melligan had to be withdrawn after 26 minutes with a calf injury and will miss the game. This will be a tester for Foster as he will have little option but to bring one of his young reserves into the starting line up.

Gormley grumbles
Eddie Gormley was unhappy with the refereeing performance relating to the dismissal of Mark O’Brien in their defeat at Tallaght as he spoke to Extratime. “I'm not disappointed with the players, I'm disappointed with the referee. It's never a sending-off in a million years. He's the only one in the ground who thought it was a sending-off.”

But Eddie was pragmatic in his views, too much can’t be expected of his young team after they were handed the poisoned chalice of playing in the premier division after making all their preparations for a season in the first.

“The lads done well, we played some great stuff. At times it looked like we had the extra man. Brian Kane was outstanding for us again tonight, and he's only a kid. It's his first year playing. They're the positives you take out of it but we pick ourselves up and we move on to Monday”.

"Dundalk had a good win on Friday night and will be on a high going into the game on Monday night.", Gormley said. "In the first game of the season they picked our pockets at the death. I'll be looking for a similar performance again and we will be positive going into the game". On a positive note Bray will welcome Colm Tresson back into their squad.

Stats tip a home win
A look back through the recent history of this fixture wouldn’t be recommended for Bray fans of a nervous disposition, when you factor in the travel sickness that seems to accompany Bray on their journeys everything points to one conclusion, home win.

Venue: Oriel Park, Dundalk

Paddypower.com Odds: Dundalk 4/11, Draw 3/1, Bray Wanderers 13/2

Referee: T. Connolly

Dundalk:
Suspended: none
Injured: JJ Melligan (calf), Alan Cawley (cheek)
Doubtful: none

Bray Wanderers:
Suspended: Mark O’Brien
Injured: Richie Bake(hamstring),Stephen Brennan (hamstring) and Shane O'Neill (hip)
Doubtful: None

Extratime Prediction: The Dundalk bandwagon to continue rolling, although they will miss Melligan, 2-1.