League of Ireland Preview: Bray Wanderers -v- Wexford

Bray Wanderers

The Seagulls return to the Carlisle Grounds for the first time in three weeks this Friday night where they host Wexford FC (kick-off is 7:45pm).

Ian Ryan’s side currently sit fifth in the table on 30 points, while Wexford lie five points below in seventh.

Ryan moved from Wexford to Bray for the 2023 season and has done well in pushing his new side into the promotion battle.

Speaking to the club’s media team this week, he said: “We’re looking forward to getting on our pitch and using the brilliant surface that we have. We’ll look first to perform well. If we do, the result will take care of itself.

“Drawing too many games has probably been our story so far. We need to turn them into victories. Hopefully, with the new blood that’s in the squad, we can start pushing them results over the line.”

The club made some new signings this week, with Ryan hoping they will be available for selection pending registration and clearance.

Former UCD and Shelbourne striker Yoyo Mahdy has joined the side along with attacking midfielder Sean Quinn who recently had a spell with Tampa Spartans in the USA.

The club also announced the signing of Barbados international Nadre Butcher, while confirming the departure of former Wexford FC midfielder Eoin Farrell.

In team news, skipper Dave Webster and striker Jake Walker missed the trip to Finn Harps last week but were back training in recent days and hope to make the squad.

Wexford FC

James Keddy’s side go into this fixture on the back of two defeats to Athlone and Longford.

The squad will certainly meet some familiar faces in the Carlisle Grounds, with a number of last year’s side moving with Ryan to Wicklow, including goalkeeper Alex Moody and striker Ger Shortt.

Keddy has also added to his squad in the past couple of weeks, with youngsters Eoin Kenny, Max Kelly and Luke Browne all featuring in last week’s 4-1 defeat to Athlone in Ferrycarrig Park.

In their previous meetings this season, Bray snatched all three points back in March when a Ben Feeney brace and a Cole Omorehiomwan winner sealed a 3-2 triumph at the Carlisle Grounds.

The reverse fixture at Ferrycarrig Park in May saw a Dane Massey equaliser cancel out Matthew Dunne’s opener for Wexford, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

Both Longford and Finn Harps lie just three points behind Wexford in the table so the squad will be hoping to get a result on the road this week.

Referee: Marc Lynch

Betting

Bray Wanderers 4/7; draw 14/5; Wexford FC 4/1

Prediction

Bray Wanderers 2-1 Wexford FC

Bray Wanderers:

Injured: N/A

Doubtful: N/A

Suspended: None

Wexford FC:

Injured: Thomas Considine, Aaron Robinson

Doubtful: N/A

Suspended: Brandon McCann