Bray Wanderers -v- Bohemians
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Bohemians will look to climb up the Airtricity Premier Division table when they play the first of their two games in hand against Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds on Tuesday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).
After a 3-1 defeat to St. Pat's last Friday week, and a scoreless draw at home to Shamrock Rovers on Saturday, Pat Fenlon's side will need to get back to winning ways here if they are serious about securing the league title for a third year running. They will be overwhelming favourites to win this tie against a Bray side, who are currently six points behind their nearest rivals at the foot of the table.
Bohs will head into this fixture without the services of Raffaele Cretaro, who is recovering from a shin operation, while fellow summer recruit Aaron Greene will also miss out because of an ankle injury sustained in the Setanta Cup Final against St. Pat's. Skipper Owen Heary is also doubtful because of a calf injury, but the Phibsboro side will be boosted by the return from suspension of Gareth McGlynn, who has controversially missed out on a month's action.
Should Bohs win this game, which was originally set to be played a number of weeks ago, they will move up to fourth place in the table, albeit with a game in hand still to play.
This game comes at a particularly bad time for Bray, as they lost 5-1 the last time out to Paul Cook's Sligo Rovers, and they will face a Bohs side that will be fired up in their quest for three points. Eddie Gormley will continue to operate without a number of first-teamers, as the likes of Richie Baker, David Tyrrell, Dean Zambra and David O'Neill continue to be hampered by a variety of injuries.
Veteran Colm Tresson may also miss out, and will need a late fitness test before he is given the all-clear to participate. There is some good news for Bray though, as Shane O'Connor returns to the squad having missed out on the trip to Sligo through suspension (he had been sent-off in the league at home to Drogheda United).
Speaking in the aftermath of the defeat to Sligo, Gormley was left disappointed with the way the game panned out, especially as they had made a good start to the game.
"We gave away a poor goal and shortly after that we missed a great chance to get level. I could not fault the effort of the players. Sligo in my opinion are the best side we have played this season but at 4-0 down at half time it was game over. However in the second half we created probably the better chances", Gormley commented.
"We need to make ourselves difficult to beat. Bohemians, as Champions, are not having the best of times at the moment and they will be keen to make a mark. We will need to defend better if we hope to get something from the game. All I ask for is 100% from my players", Gormley added.
With a win being of the utmost importance for The Gypsies going into this tie, it would be hard to see anything other than an away win from this tie. Bray, as always, will be well up for it, and while the final margin might not be as massive as in some of The Seagulls' previous encounters this season, this could still turn out to be one of the easier games that Bohs have had this season.
Venue: Carlisle Grounds, Bray.
Paddypower.com odds: Bray 11/1, Bohemians 1/4, Draw 4/1.
Bray Wanderers
Injured: Richie Baker, David Tyrrell, David O'Neill, Dean Zambra.
Doubtful: Colm Tresson.
Suspended: None.
Bohemians
Injured: Raffaele Cretaro, Aaron Greene.
Doubtful: Owen Heary.
Suspended: None.
Extratime.ie prediction: Bray Wanderers 1-3 Bohemians.
After a 3-1 defeat to St. Pat's last Friday week, and a scoreless draw at home to Shamrock Rovers on Saturday, Pat Fenlon's side will need to get back to winning ways here if they are serious about securing the league title for a third year running. They will be overwhelming favourites to win this tie against a Bray side, who are currently six points behind their nearest rivals at the foot of the table.
Bohs will head into this fixture without the services of Raffaele Cretaro, who is recovering from a shin operation, while fellow summer recruit Aaron Greene will also miss out because of an ankle injury sustained in the Setanta Cup Final against St. Pat's. Skipper Owen Heary is also doubtful because of a calf injury, but the Phibsboro side will be boosted by the return from suspension of Gareth McGlynn, who has controversially missed out on a month's action.
Should Bohs win this game, which was originally set to be played a number of weeks ago, they will move up to fourth place in the table, albeit with a game in hand still to play.
This game comes at a particularly bad time for Bray, as they lost 5-1 the last time out to Paul Cook's Sligo Rovers, and they will face a Bohs side that will be fired up in their quest for three points. Eddie Gormley will continue to operate without a number of first-teamers, as the likes of Richie Baker, David Tyrrell, Dean Zambra and David O'Neill continue to be hampered by a variety of injuries.
Veteran Colm Tresson may also miss out, and will need a late fitness test before he is given the all-clear to participate. There is some good news for Bray though, as Shane O'Connor returns to the squad having missed out on the trip to Sligo through suspension (he had been sent-off in the league at home to Drogheda United).
Speaking in the aftermath of the defeat to Sligo, Gormley was left disappointed with the way the game panned out, especially as they had made a good start to the game.
"We gave away a poor goal and shortly after that we missed a great chance to get level. I could not fault the effort of the players. Sligo in my opinion are the best side we have played this season but at 4-0 down at half time it was game over. However in the second half we created probably the better chances", Gormley commented.
"We need to make ourselves difficult to beat. Bohemians, as Champions, are not having the best of times at the moment and they will be keen to make a mark. We will need to defend better if we hope to get something from the game. All I ask for is 100% from my players", Gormley added.
With a win being of the utmost importance for The Gypsies going into this tie, it would be hard to see anything other than an away win from this tie. Bray, as always, will be well up for it, and while the final margin might not be as massive as in some of The Seagulls' previous encounters this season, this could still turn out to be one of the easier games that Bohs have had this season.
Venue: Carlisle Grounds, Bray.
Paddypower.com odds: Bray 11/1, Bohemians 1/4, Draw 4/1.
Bray Wanderers
Injured: Richie Baker, David Tyrrell, David O'Neill, Dean Zambra.
Doubtful: Colm Tresson.
Suspended: None.
Bohemians
Injured: Raffaele Cretaro, Aaron Greene.
Doubtful: Owen Heary.
Suspended: None.
Extratime.ie prediction: Bray Wanderers 1-3 Bohemians.
About Daire Walsh
Daire Walsh began reporting for Extratime in 2009, when he covered Kildare County's games in the League Of Ireland First Division. He currently reports on games involving the league's Dublin sides and also Bray Wanderers. … View Full Profile