League Preview: Bray Wanderers -v- Sligo Rovers

In a surprising relegation battle, Bray Wanderers welcome Sligo Rovers to the Carlisle Grounds this Saturday. Kick-off is 5.45pm.

BRAY WANDERERS

Bray are currently occupying the relegation play-off place in the Premier Division table but a win over Sligo would see them leapfrog the western club. Before the break, Trevor Croly’s arrival had seen an upturn in results, picking up four points in four games, with the last two matches being narrow 1-0 defeats to Cork City and Longford Town.

Croly feels his side are improving every game they play and hopes that the Seagulls will show this against the Bit O'Red.

“We’re looking forward to the Sligo Rovers game this week,” Croly told bwfc.ie. “It provides an opportunity for us to take in to that game what we have learned from previous games and the progress we have made to date”.

Though the Bray manager acknowledged that their next opponents would be no pushovers, he made no secret of the fact that he expects nothing less than three points from his side at the Carlisle Grounds.

“After a narrow defeat to Dundalk in their last game, Sligo will be looking to bounce back and this should make for a tough test,” said Croly. “Our aim going into this game is again to look to secure the three points which will enable us to climb above Sligo in the league table.”

Bray go into this match without the services of defender Adam Mitchell and midfielder Peter McGlynn who are suspended, while Adam Hanlon also misses out through injury.

SLIGO ROVERS

While much of the talk around the Showgrounds over the last few weeks has been about whether or not Owen Heary was still manager of the club, the team have slipped silently down the table to just one point above Bray in tenth place. In their last match before the break, they lost 2-1 to leaders Dundalk.

Morten Nielsen scored his first league goal for the club in the game against the Lilywhites. The big Dane's travails have only served to further highlight Sligo’s goalscoring reliance on Dinny Corcoran, who is one of only two players to score more than one league goal this season, Steven Beattie being the other with two.

Former Bohemians frontman Corcoran has six goals to his name in 2015 and he has been directly responsible for Sligo’s only two league wins – having scored all three goals in the 1-0 win over Galway United and the 2-0 win over Drogheda United.

Interim managers Gavin Dykes and Joseph N'do will be without injured pair Johnny Russell and Jeff Henderson, while Kevin Devaney is rated as doubtful for the trip to Wicklow.

Referee: Ray Matthews.

MATCH STATS

Bray and Sligo have played each other once already this season, with Bray securing their first win of the campaign thanks to a Dave Cassidy hat-trick. Steven Beattie netted the Bit O'Red's consolation.

Sligo haven’t won a game this season when Johnny Russell hasn’t played.

When Bray have scored a goal at home this season, they have gone on to win the game (4-0 vs Limerick, 1-0 vs St Patrick’s Atheltic and 3-1 vs Limerick in the FAI Cup).

BETTING

Bray Wanderers 13/5; Draw 12/5; Sligo Rovers evens.

PREDICTION

Bray Wanderers 2-1 Sligo Rovers.

Bray Wanderers

Injured: Adam Hanlon.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Peter McGlynn, Adam Mitchell.

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Johnny Russell, Jeff Henderson.

Doubtful: Kevin Devaney.

Suspended: None.