19.45 12 Jun 2015 -
Referee:
League Preview: Cork City -v- Bray Wanderers
- John O'Shea
- Thu, Jun 11 2015
CORK CITY
Cork City could go top of the League of Ireland Premier Division, joining Dundalk at the top of the table, should results go their way when they host Bray on Friday night at Turners Cross.
Cork will be fully aware that the visiting side have started to find some form, since they appointed Trevor Croly as manager a couple of weeks ago.
As well as this though, John Caulfield’s side know that Bray can be tough opponents to come up against.
It required a late goal from Kieran Djilali to beat the ten man Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds earlier in the season. While on the last occasion the sides faced each other in Turners Cross, they played out a 1-1 draw on the title run in.
Overall, City have been doing reasonably well this season, only losing once in the league and maintaining a relatively consistent run of results. They know full well that there is a long way to go in the season and there will of course be plenty of twists and turns between now and the season’s end.
Cork City will be without the services of the injured pair of Kieran Djilali and John Dunleavy through knee injuries, along with Darren Dennehy who misses out through suspension.
Alan Bennett looks set to be in contention for a return to the side on Friday night.
BRAY WANDERERS
Bray Wanderers have been a tough nut for Cork City to crack in their recent meetings and they will be hoping to do something similar and pick up a positive result before the mid-season break.
Trevor Croly has made an instant impact since taking over the reigns as First Team Manager, helping guide the side to a string of positive results, which included home victories over St Patrick’s Athletic and Limerick FC.
Last time out, Bray lost out by the tightest of margins going down one nil at home to Longford Town. However, the side from Wicklow can feel aggrieved by the circumstances which led up to the goal on the night. Bray had the ball in the net, only for the goal to be disallowed, this was just after Bray went down to ten men, following the dismissal of Peter McGlynn.
The trip to Cork will be a difficult one and Turners Cross is a difficult place for opposing sides to pick up even a point. But given how recent encounters have gone, add to that the fact that it’s not a regular occurrence in this league to get an easy game, Bray will go down and feel that it is not beyond them to cause a shock against City.
Bray will be without the suspended McGlynn and Adam Hanlon, who is out because of a knee injury.
Referee: Jim McKell.
MATCH STATS
The last time that Bray were victorious in Turners Cross was in 2013. The game was played on the 18th of May and Wanderers were 3-1 winners on the night.
In the 51 league encounters between the sides, Cork have won 29 times, Bray have won 7 and the sides have drawn on 15 occasions.
Cork City have won 16 of the 25 league games the sides have played at Turners Cross.
BETTING
Cork City 1/5 ; Draw 11/2 ; Bray Wanderers 16/1; .
PREDICTION
Cork City 3-1 Bray Wanderers
Cork City
Injured: Kieran Djilali, John Dunleavy.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Darren Dennehy.
Bray Wanderers
Injured: Adam Hanlon.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Peter McGlynn.
About John O'Shea
John is a Cork based reporter, mainly covering Cork City and Cobh Ramblers. John also reports regularly on Munster Senior League and Cork Youths League football for the Evening Echo. John has also freelanced for …