League Preview: Bray Wanderers -v- Drogheda United

New owners, a new crest, a new kick-off time and, most importantly, a new theme song means that there is something of a small revolution going on at Bray Wanderers this season. The Seagulls face their first storm in the form of Drogheda United this Saturday the 7^th of March. Kick-off is 5.45pm.

BRAY WANDERERS

Despite the many changes made at the club, it’s been predicted that it’ll be once more a difficult season for Bray and that they will be one of the teams battling to survive in the Premier Division this year. Manager Alan Matthews has brought in twelve new faces into the squad in a bid to prove the doubters wrong, with three coming in the forward department.

Pre-season seems to have shown a turn-around in the Seagulls’ luck in front of goal, with them netting eight goals in four pre-season matches, albeit against weaker opponents on paper. New signings Emeka Onwubiko and Chris Lyons, both from Shamrock Rovers, have gotten off the mark and they will be keen to carry their form into the league for Bray and aid a side that only scored twenty-eight goals in the Premier Division last year.

Defence has also been an urgent issue to address, even more so with the retirement of Danny O’Connor and the departure of Dave Webster to Shamrock Rovers. Experienced Alan McNally and Peter McGlynn, both of whom played for Drogheda last year, have been brought in, while the retaining of young goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness has also been a big plus for the team.

The only absentee for Bray will be midfielder Graham Kelly, who will sit out the game due to suspension.

DROGHEDA UNITED

Drogheda United have also been predicted to be amongst Bray in the fight for survival, a repeat of last season in which the Drogs finished one place ahead of Bray in ninth place, although they did have a ten point gap between themselves and the Wanderers. And like their opponents, they too have made changes to bring about a better finish.

The Louth side have assembled the largest squad in the Premier Division this year, boasting a thirty strong team, with fifteen new signings and nine having been promoted from the underage set-up. Despite this, manager Johnny McDonnell told droghedaunited.ie that he was optimistic for the season ahead. “You’re always confident going in to a new season,” he said, before adding that, “It’s all about the performance and once you deliver that, the result will take care of itself.’

The Drogheda boss will have heard of Bray’s LSC clash with Bohemians two weeks ago, a game in which David Cassidy’s corners and Luke Gallagher’s free-kicks caused problems for Bohs. McDonnell said, “Alan’s sides have always played with a very direct style with high pressure so they’re very difficult to play against.” He then acknowledged, “They were dangerous from set-pieces last season and once we deal with that, we have a good chance.”

Drogheda will be without three players for their clash with Bray. Defender Alan Byrne and midfielder Shane Dunne both miss out through suspension, while Mark Hughes, a signing from Athlone Town, is also out recovering from injury.

Referee: Sean Grant

MATCH STATS

It’s been a fairly equal tie in the past, with both teams winning one last season (2-0 to Bray, 3-1 to Drogs) and the other game ending in a 1-1 draw. Of the eight different scorers of those goals, only two remain at their club, Dave Scully and Adam Hanlon at Bray.

Bray only won one away game last season, which was the 2-0 win over Drogheda United in April of last year.

Peter McGlynn, Alan McNally and David Cassidy are all former Drogheda players plying their trade down at the Carlisle Grounds, while Joe Gorman is the only former Seagull up in United Park.

BETTING

Bray Wanderers 5/4; Draw 9/4; Drogheda United 21/10.

PREDICTION

I’m going all out for goals: Bray 3 – 3 Drogheda Utd.

Bray Wanderers

Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Graham Kelly

Drogheda United

Injured: Mark Hughes
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Shane Dunne, Alan Byrne.