Preview: Bray Wanderers vs Drogheda United

• Finbarr O'Sullivan
• Thu, May 08 2008




Bray Wanderers host Drogheda United in Friday's Premier Division clash at the Carlisle Grounds.

Both sides will be looking to continue their recent good form. Bray are unbeaten in six games, having won five and drawn the other. Drogheda, in a near identical record, have won five of their last six but they lost the other game.

Although Wanderers' manager Eddie Gormley has a long list of injuries at the moment, it is expected that he will have a full squad available to him on Friday evening. Patrick Kavanagh (dead leg), Paul Dunphy (ankle) and Chris O'Connor (ankle) all picked up knocks in Monday night's League Cup victory over Shamrock Rovers, but they are all expected to recover in time.

Gary McCabe returns from a hamstring injury after missing the last two matches. Derek Foran sat out Monday night's match with a groin strain and Gavin Whelan was subbed off at half-time against Cobh Ramblers with a back complaint. Both should be ready to face Drogheda on Friday.

In the build-up to Friday's match, Gormley said: "I was delighted to get the three points last Friday. We have played better but over the 90 minutes we probably deserved the three points. It's another three points towards safety and if we keep working hard we'll be ok."

Drogheda United will once again be without full-back Brian Shelley and keeper Dan Connor. Shaun Maher has regained his fitness and could be in line for his Drogheda debut on Friday night.

There is still some doubt over Joe Kendrick, Paul Keegan and Jason Gavin but all three are expected to be available for the match in the Carlisle Grounds on Friday evening.

Speaking ahead of Drogheda’s trip to Bray, manager Paul Doolin said: “Bray have done brilliantly, of course it will be tough. They've got some good results recently so we'll have to be at our best to best them. But we know we can. We need to keep picking up points and closing that gap at the top."

The referee for this match will be Paul Tuite and kick-off is at 7.45pm.