Bray Wanderers -v- Sligo Rovers

• Gareth Penrose
• Thu, Aug 20 2009


A huge relegation dog fight is scheduled for Friday night (kick-off 19:45) when Bray Wanderers welcome Sligo Rovers to the Carlisle Grounds. Bray are two points behind Sligo with a game in hand and both sides will be going all out to win this six pointer.

In previous meetings between these sides this season, the home side has been victorious. Sligo won 2-1 in the Showgrounds in April whilst Bray did slightly better with a 3-1 win in the Carlisle Grounds.

Bray Manager Eddie Gormley is fresh from an FAI Ford Cup victory over Tralee Dynamos and whilst he was delighted to progress in the cup, attention now is solely focused on the league clash.

"It was great to get to the quarter finals of the Cup and we will see what Monday brings. I'm looking forward to Friday night it's a massive game for both sides a real six pointer. Hopefully we can put in a performance like we did in Dundalk. They brought in few new players in the window and we will have to be at or very best if we are to get something from the game".

In team news, Bray will be without Paul Byrne as he remains sidelined with a long term knee injury. Chris Shieds, who was suspended for last week’s Cup win, makes a return to the squad. There are further injury worries over Stephen Brennan(hamstring), Ian Touhy(hamstring),and Dave Webster (knee strain).

Sligo Rovers also progressed in the Cup last week with a 1-0 win over Derry City which was somewhat surprising as they had only four days previous lost to the Candystripes by four goals. Paul Cook will be hoping the result will springboard his team into winning, having lost three league games on the trot.

Gavin Peers has failed to come through training this week and will be out for a further two or three weeks. Connor O’Grady and Alan Keane both picked up knocks in the game against Derry City and are major doubts for Fridays game.

Extratime.ie Prediction: A close and tough clash predicted, but I’m siding with a Sligo victory here by a single goal margin.