League Preview: Bray Wanderers -v- Drogheda United

BRAY WANDERERS

Having narrowly lost to Premier Division champions Dundalk last week, Bray Wanderers boss Mick Cooke will be hoping his players can take all three points from the other team in Louth, Drogheda United.

As Drogs have dropped down the Premier Division table in recent weeks, Bray have moved up and now sit in seventh position, one point and two places above Cooke's former club. The 63 year old has carried on where Trevor Croly left off, winning two of his first three games in charge.

From a playing perspective, the change in outlook at the Carlisle Grounds can be surmised by Cooke saying his side were unlucky not to take all three points from last week's game against the Lilywhites. However, he also appreciates that successive negative results could see his side dragged back into the mire and is taking nothing for granted yet.

“I felt that we were unlucky to lose against Dundalk last Friday,” Cooke told bwfc.ie. “We played well, defended strongly and attacked at pace while creating chances, we had more possession and ultimately we could have taken a point if not all three from the reigning champions.

“Saturday's game will be extremely tight,” added the Seagulls boss. “Drogheda are a good football side and Johnny [McDonnell] has them well drilled. Three points for us tonight [Saturday] would be huge in the closely contested mini-league of the bottom-half.”

Adam Hanlon (knee) and goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness (ankle) remain sidelined for the hosts, but it is a measure of how well Peter Cherrie has performed between the sticks since arriving at the club last month that the 20 year old's absence hasn't been a factor.

Cherrie was voted the Bray Supporters Club's Player of the Month for July and McGuinness will find it difficult to reclaim the number one spot when he does finally return to full fitness.

DROGHEDA UNITED

After enduring a torrid July where they failed to win even one of the six games they played (one draw from four league games, as well as two friendly defeats), Drogheda boss Johnny McDonnell knows the period coming up is crucial to ensuring his side avoids the dreaded relegation play-off at the end of the season.

Starting with Saturday's trip to Bray at the Carlisle Grounds, Drogs' next five league games are against teams in the bottom-half of the table, with the Louth side's last six matches of the season featuring a home tie with Cork City and trips to Dundalk, St. Patrick's Athletic and Shamrock Rovers on the final day.

Last week's 1-0 defeat to the Hoops at United Park saw the former Shelbourne boss alter his frontline, playing July signing from Cabinteely Ger Pender through the middle in his first start for his new club, with Tiarnan Mulvenna and top scorer Lee Duffy pushed out wide.

“We wanted to mix it up going into the game and to give Rovers something different to think about,” McDonnell told droghedaunited.ie. “I thought they all played well but we may look to change it again against Bray as I would imagine that they will play with a more counter-attacking style.

“I only like to look at it one game at a time but I think 30 points will probably be enough to keep us up,” added McDonnell. “That means we need to pick up three wins from the remaining games. Our last few games are against the top sides so it's vital that we get some more points on the board in the next few weeks.”

Alan Byrne and Joe Gorman are suspended for the trip to the seaside, but Robert O'Reilly could come back into contention again after illness while new signings Nathan Seery and Mark O'Brien await FAI clearance.

Referee: Ben Connolly.

MATCH STATS

Drogheda travel to the Carlisle Grounds looking to preserve a 100% record against Bray in 2015. They edged a six-goal thriller in May, winning 4-2, while Drogs' last visit to the seaside on the opening day of the campaign saw them leave with three points thanks to a 1-0 win.

Drogheda are without a league win since their 1-0 victory over Bohemians at Dalymount Park at the end of June. They lost three and drew one of their four Premier Division matches in July.

Bray's last seven league games have ended 1-0. They won four of those (against Sligo Rovers, Limerick, Derry City and Galway United) and lost three (against Longford Town, Cork City and Dundalk).

BETTING

Bray Wanderers 13/10; Draw 23/10; Drogheda United 2/1.

PREDICTION

Bray Wanderers 1-0 Drogheda United.

Bray Wanderers

Injured: Stephen McGuinness (ankle), Adam Hanlon (knee).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Drogheda United

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Alan Byrne, Joe Gorman.