Bray Wanderers -v- Bohemians
Credit:
Bray Wanderers will be hoping to get their 2011 Airtricity Premier Division campaign off to a good start when they welcome Pat Fenlon’s Bohemians to the Carlisle Grounds on Friday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).
Last season ended on a high for Bray, as they staged a remarkable recovery in the second half of the year to lift themselves off the bottom of the table, before dramatically defeating Monaghan United on penalties in the end of season relegation/promotion play-off.
In contrast, Bohemians have had a tough time of it in the past few months, as they lost their Premier Division crown to Shamrock Rovers, and then had to contend with ongoing financial difficulties and also a dispute involving Brian Shelley and Steven Gray from last year’s squad.
Bray have struggled against Bohemians in recent years (they failed to score against them in their four league encounters last season), but the visitors have undergone significant changes to their squad, so this contest may prove to be quite even.
Pat Devlin will have to make do without three first teamers for this fixture, as Gary Shaw, Stephen Brennan and Derek Prendergast are out with ankle, calf and hamstring injuries respectively. They do have a number of new signings for the new season, with more recent additions like Conor Murphy, Dan McGuinness and Joe Kendrick being included in a Bray Wanderers squad for the very first time.
Director Of Football Devlin is hopeful that his side can improve on their league position from last season, though he does feel the visit of Bohemians will be a tough start for them.
“We will be looking to improve a little on our position in the League and if we get the same commitment and spirit we showed in the final ten games or so of last season we will achieve our goal”, Devlin stated.
“It’s a tough start for us, meeting Bohemians in our first game. I know Pat Fenlon and I know the players he has. They are very good players and they will be well organized, it will be tough, but we will go out and do our very best”.
Bohemians have similar injury concerns heading into this contest, with defender Liam Burns (hamstring), Mark Rossiter (hamstring) and goalkeepers Chris O’Connor (shoulder) and Barry Murphy (back) all doubtful for the Dalymount Park-outfit.
On the plus side, they do have 19-year-old Craig Sexton available to take his place between the sticks, as the former Manchester United trainee has completed his registration in time. Midfielder Robert Bayly will miss the first three league matches through suspension, with Fenlon also serving a one-match touchline ban. Dugout duties will fall the way of assistant Liam O’Brien, who has had his own two-match suspension deferred.
Fenlon is fully expecting a stern test from Bray on Friday evening, and he feels his own side still have a lot of work to do judging by their display in the Setanta Cup against Portadown during the week.
“The Portadown match showed where we were as a team. We’re a little behind in terms of fitness and sharpness and organization as well. There were some good glimpses but there was some poor stuff as well. We know what to expect in Bray. Nobody goes out to Bray and gets an easy game”, Fenlon remarked.
Certainly, that was very much the case during the closing part of the season, and with a decent squad now in place, Bray should certainly head into this campaign believing that they can ruffle a few more feathers.
It remains to be seen how good Bohemians will be this season and, for that reason, this game may well end up in a stalemate.
Bray Wanderers
Injured: Gary Shaw, Stephen Brennan, Derek Prendergast
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Bohemians
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Liam Burns, Mark Rossiter, Chris O’Connor, Barry Murphy.
Suspended: Robert Bayly.
Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).
Paddy Power odds: Bray Wanderers 2/1; Draw 11/5; Bohemians 13/10.
Extratime prediction: Bray Wanderers 1-1 Bohemians.
Last season ended on a high for Bray, as they staged a remarkable recovery in the second half of the year to lift themselves off the bottom of the table, before dramatically defeating Monaghan United on penalties in the end of season relegation/promotion play-off.
In contrast, Bohemians have had a tough time of it in the past few months, as they lost their Premier Division crown to Shamrock Rovers, and then had to contend with ongoing financial difficulties and also a dispute involving Brian Shelley and Steven Gray from last year’s squad.
Bray have struggled against Bohemians in recent years (they failed to score against them in their four league encounters last season), but the visitors have undergone significant changes to their squad, so this contest may prove to be quite even.
Pat Devlin will have to make do without three first teamers for this fixture, as Gary Shaw, Stephen Brennan and Derek Prendergast are out with ankle, calf and hamstring injuries respectively. They do have a number of new signings for the new season, with more recent additions like Conor Murphy, Dan McGuinness and Joe Kendrick being included in a Bray Wanderers squad for the very first time.
Director Of Football Devlin is hopeful that his side can improve on their league position from last season, though he does feel the visit of Bohemians will be a tough start for them.
“We will be looking to improve a little on our position in the League and if we get the same commitment and spirit we showed in the final ten games or so of last season we will achieve our goal”, Devlin stated.
“It’s a tough start for us, meeting Bohemians in our first game. I know Pat Fenlon and I know the players he has. They are very good players and they will be well organized, it will be tough, but we will go out and do our very best”.
Bohemians have similar injury concerns heading into this contest, with defender Liam Burns (hamstring), Mark Rossiter (hamstring) and goalkeepers Chris O’Connor (shoulder) and Barry Murphy (back) all doubtful for the Dalymount Park-outfit.
On the plus side, they do have 19-year-old Craig Sexton available to take his place between the sticks, as the former Manchester United trainee has completed his registration in time. Midfielder Robert Bayly will miss the first three league matches through suspension, with Fenlon also serving a one-match touchline ban. Dugout duties will fall the way of assistant Liam O’Brien, who has had his own two-match suspension deferred.
Fenlon is fully expecting a stern test from Bray on Friday evening, and he feels his own side still have a lot of work to do judging by their display in the Setanta Cup against Portadown during the week.
“The Portadown match showed where we were as a team. We’re a little behind in terms of fitness and sharpness and organization as well. There were some good glimpses but there was some poor stuff as well. We know what to expect in Bray. Nobody goes out to Bray and gets an easy game”, Fenlon remarked.
Certainly, that was very much the case during the closing part of the season, and with a decent squad now in place, Bray should certainly head into this campaign believing that they can ruffle a few more feathers.
It remains to be seen how good Bohemians will be this season and, for that reason, this game may well end up in a stalemate.
Bray Wanderers
Injured: Gary Shaw, Stephen Brennan, Derek Prendergast
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Bohemians
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Liam Burns, Mark Rossiter, Chris O’Connor, Barry Murphy.
Suspended: Robert Bayly.
Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).
Paddy Power odds: Bray Wanderers 2/1; Draw 11/5; Bohemians 13/10.
Extratime prediction: Bray Wanderers 1-1 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