Bray Wanderers -v- Monaghan United

• Extratime Team
• Mon, Nov 08 2010


Monaghan United face Bray Wanderers in The Carlisle Grounds on Monday evening in the second leg of their promotion/relegation play-off tie both looking for a place in next seasons Premier Division. Kick-Off 7.45pm.

Friday night last the sides met in the first leg in Gortakeegan in Monaghan. A game that Monaghan United dominated finished scoreless to leave the second game nicely poised.

Derek Prendergast (ankle), Sean Houston (cruciate) and John Mulroy (hamstring) all miss the game through injury. Dave Webster, sent off in Sligo recently, and Matt Gregg, sent off in the final minute in the first leg, both also miss the game to leave Bray without up to five first team regulars. Positive news for Pat Devlin sees central defender Adam Mitchell available again having served his one match ban on Friday night.

Bray Director of Football Pat Devlin is confident his side can retain their Premier Division status. “At the start we were planning for the First Division and then we end up in the Premier and now after a remarkable adventure here we are playing for our lives in the final game of the season. We are happy to be in the position we are in having survived Monaghan and now we are playing on our own pitch for Premier survival."

Karl Bermingham, Sean Brennan and Cathal O'Connor all had to be withdrawn during the first leg with injuries and all remain doubtful.

Monaghan manager Mick Cooke was happy with his sides performance in the first leg. “I was satisfied with our overall performance on Friday and with a little bit of luck we could have won the game. The same type of performance with that portion of luck should be enough on this occasion. Bray will know what to expect from us and I have no doubt but they will also endeavour to improve on that performance at Gortakeegan. A good show from us and I would be confident of promotion, it’s our last chance and I know we will have a good support to cheer us on”.

Premier Division Bray will feel they have the upper hand but Monaghan will be well up for the game. Bray have lost just once to Monaghan in their last 15 meeting in all competitions, while they have defeated Monaghan in their last 12 meetings.