Drogheda United -v- Bray Wanderers

DROGHEDA UNITED

Drogheda are hoping that their recent form will continue as they head into this game against Bray Wanderers. After not winning in nine games, including a 3-2 defeat to Bray, Drogheda have now won twice in a row in the league with a big 3-0 win over Limerick and a surprise 2-0 victory over title chasers Derry City. They also beat Derry in the EA Sports Cup and most recently enjoyed a 3-2 victory over Longford Town in the FAI Ford Cup.

Mick Cooke has said that he and the players “are looking forward to getting back to Hunky Dorys Park,” adding that, “I think we have only played there twice in the last couple of weeks”, with four out of Drogheda’s last five games having been away from home. But they didn’t lose any of those fixtures and Drogheda “hoping to keep up our good form on the road.” 

Drogheda know that Bray will be up for the game with Mick Cooke acknowledging that “it won’t be easy, I watched them on Friday night against St Pats and I thought they were very unlucky, they created as many chances as Pats did, they just didn’t take them.” But he is optimistic that a good game can prevail from what could be a tense match: “We have had some good games with Bray this season, we both like to play football and Pat Devlin always has his side primed for whomever they are playing.”

Unfortunately for Drogheda, Declan “Fabio” O’Brien is suspended for Friday’s game after the team’s top goal-scorer, with thirteen league goals, accumulated four yellow cards. Graham Rusk will also miss the match against Bray but Alan McNally is back in the squad after returning from a broken finger.

BRAY WANDERERS

Bray will be hoping to be off the bottom of the table by the end of Friday’s encounter with Drogheda. Bray currently sit bottom on twenty points with a minus twenty four goal difference while Shelbourne, above them, have the same points but have conceded five goals fewer. Bohemians are also only a point away. Bray are looking for their first win in the league since beating UCD 5-4 away from home nine games ago.

Bray’s last game ended in a 3-0 defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic in the FAI Ford Cup. Bray’s director of football, Pat Devlin, wants his team to attack from the first whistle and try to grab the goal first in the game against Drogheda. As he said after the FAI Ford Cup match, "It was the same old story, we did enough to win the game but couldn't get a goal while at the same time we gave away two silly goals ourselves. Same old story just a different weekend". 

Like Drogheda’s manager Mick Cooke, Pat Devlin believes that Friday’s game will be difficult. "Drogheda are having an excellent season”, he said. “It's always tough up there and this week it will be no different".  Bray last played at Hunky Dory Park in March, where a crisp headed finish from Ryan Brennan won the game 2-1 for Drogheda. 

Daire Doyle (Ankle) and Eoin Hyland (Hamstring) remain doubts for Bray’s game against Drogheda. Bray have been boosted by the return of former Drogheda players Stephen Quigley and Dwayne Wilson, who were both cup tied for Bray’s game versus St Patrick’s Athletic. Bray have new signing Kevin Maher to add to their midfield although it remains to be seen if he will play a part against Drogheda this Friday.

Referee: Paul Tuite.

MATCH FACTS

Both teams are reliant on an individual goal-scorer as Bray’s Jason Byrne has scored twelve of his sides twenty nine goals while suspended Declan O’Brien has scored thirteen of Drogheda’s thirty three goals. Drogheda will have to hope that the Brennan’s, Ryan and Gavin, score again as they have done in the last two matches.

Bray have won more games away from home, three (UCD, Cork and Shels), than at home, two (Drogheda and Shels).

Drogheda have drawn the second highest amount games in the league with eleven ties. Shamrock Rovers just beat them to the unwanted record with twelve tied games.

BETTING

Drogheda 4/7; Draw 13/5; Bray 5/1.

PREDICTION

Drogheda United 2-2 Bray Wanderers

Drogheda United

Injured: Graham Rusk.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Declan O’Brien.

Bray Wanderers

Injured: None.
Doubtful: Daire Doyle, Eoin Hyland, and Kevin Maher.
Suspended: None.