Bray Wanderers -v- Derry City
BRAY WANDERERS
Bray Wanderers will be without the services of veteran striker Jason Byrne as Derry City visit the Carlisle Grounds (kick-off 7.45pm). Byrne was sent off in the shock 1-0 win away to St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday night.
It’s most likely that Kieran Marty Waters will take his place up front, moving in from the wing. The pack will need to be reshuffled slightly in midfield with Dean Marshall waiting to take a place in the starting team.
Kevin Knight and long-term absentee Stephen Brennan are also unavailable and there are doubts over Adam Hanlon who missed the St Pat’s game and Adam Mitchell who had to be withdrawn before halt-time on Friday.
Bray are without a home win in the League since beating UCD 1-0 on June 1, despite picking up some good points away from the Carlisle Grounds, and the management team of Pat Devlin and Keith Long are keen to change that seaside slump.
DERRY CITY
Boss Declan Devine saw his team ease past Bohemians on Friday night with a 2-0 win, turning around a short dry run of three games without a win.
Devine should have no new injury worries ahead of the trip down the east coast, with only Kevin Deery definitely sidelined. Stuart Graecen returned to the defence for the Bohs game and was a revelation.
Devine told the Derry Journal: “We have to take winning the Bray match as our next mission - we’ve got to make sure that we go there and take all three points.
“They’ve beaten St Pat’s now away from home so we know it won’t be easy. We’ve just got to make sure that in the next game and every game, we give a good account of ourselves.”
Referee: Tom Connolly
MATCH STATS
Bray have picked up just nine points at home this season (13 being picked up on their travels) and have conceded more goals at the Carlisle Grounds than they have away from home, and in fewer games.
The Candystripes have beaten the Seagulls twice already in the League this year, 4-0 at the Brandywell and 3-2 at the Carlisle Grounds.
BETTING
Bray Wanderers 11/5; Draw 11/5; Derry City 6/5
PREDICTION
Bray Wanderers 1-2 Derry City
Bray Injury News: Stephen Brennan, Kevin Knight
Bray Injury Doubts: Adam Mitchell, Adam Hanlon
Bray Suspension News: Jason Byrne
Derry City Injury News: Kevin Deery
Derry City Suspension News: None