EA Sports Cup preview: Bray Wanderers -v- Shelbourne

BRAY WANDERERS

Bray will be looking to the EA Sports Cup to provide a distraction to their poor league form when they welcome Shelbourne to the Carlisle Grounds on Monday night (kick-off 7.45).

Bray began the season in positive fashion, drawing 0-0 with giants Dundalk at Oriel Park.

However, since then all has fallen asunder for Dave Mackey's side as the Seagulls have succumbed to six defeats including Friday's 2-1 loss to Bohemians.

Mackey's side started Friday's trip to Dalymount Park well as Daniel Kelly opened the scoring after just three minutes only for Ian Morris to equalise 60 seconds later.

The game remained evenly poised until the prolific Dinny Corcoran found the net in injury time to break Bray hearts.

SHELBOURNE

Shels travel to the Carlisle Grounds on the back of a 1-0 win over Cobh Ramblers on Friday.

The Reds have been in good forms in recent weeks, beating Longford and Cobh after obtaining a decent point away at Ollie Horgan's Finn Harps earlier on in March.

Manager Owen Heary is expecting to make changes ahead of the game as a few of his regular starters are still recovering from Friday's battle with Cobh.

“We’ll probably have to [make a few changes] because we have some sore bodies,” he told the club’s website.

“But we’ll address that in the morning and see who we can put out, but I think we have enough on the bench that can come in and do a job.

“And it’s then up to them to perform on the day and give me food for thought ahead of next week’s game,” Heary explained.

Aidan Collins, Mark Hughes and Dave Mulcahy remain sidelined with injuries for this one while Alan Byrne also misses out having picked up an injury in Friday night's game.

 

Referee: Unknown.

MATCH STATS

Bray's last home win came at the end of October in a 1-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers at the Carlisle Grounds.

Shelbourne's last win on the road came in the Leinster Senior Cup final against Dundalk. That game was also in October.

Both sides were knocked out at the second round stage of last season's EA Sports Cup.

BETTING

Bray 5/4; Draw 11/4; Shelbourne 9/5.

PREDICTION

Bray 1-2 Shelborune

Bray

Injured: Kevin Lynch (foot).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Shelbourne

Injured: Aidan Collins, Dave Mulcahy, Mark Hughes, Alan Byrne.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.