Dundalk -v- Bray Wanderers

• Simon O'Gorman
• Fri, Sep 03 2010


The Premier Division’s bottom side Bray Wanderers travel to Dundalk on Friday night knowing that if they are to escape automatic relegation some positive results are needed soon and a repeat of the 3-2 win they enjoyed on their last trip to Oriel Park would be provide a welcome start. (Kick-off 7.45)

In fairness to Pat Devlin’s men they have won twice in their last five league outings; an invaluable 2-0 win away to Drogheda, who stand only five points above them in the league table with an extra game played, and an impressive 3-2 win over title contenders St Patrick’s Athletic.

Their last league outing ended with an emphatic defeat at the hands of table toppers Shamrock Rovers but the Wicklow men will know that a Dundalk side that are currently bedding in several new faces represent an altogether more manageable assignment.

There are, however, injury worries concerning the talismanic Jake Kelly and striker John Mulroy, so Pat Devlin will welcome the arrival of teenage striker Gary Shaw and the return from suspension of defender Dane Massey.

Bray will have been buoyed by last weekend’s 3-2 cup victory over UCD although Devlin admitted that he would have preferred three league points to an advance to the FAI Cup quarter-finals but quickly added, "we will take a win wherever we get it.”

“We flattered to deceive at times on Friday”, said Devlin, “but if we had taken our chances we would have put the game out of their reach before they scored. I'm looking forward to Friday night, it will be tough. We have already beaten them up there, but we need points on the board and if we put in the same effort as last Friday we will be there or thereabouts".

For their part Dundalk have failed to win any of their last seven league games, managing only two draws; away to Galway and at home to UCD. In those seven games they have scored just three goals with new signing Mathew Tipton, a doubt for Fridays game with a back injury, getting two of them. Defensively Dundalk do not look to be in the best of shape having failed to keep a clean sheet in in any of their last nineteen games.

Ian Foster will again be without the injured Alan Cawley or Garry Breen while both Stephen Maher and Tom Miller will be suspended.

Dundalk fans must look back on their dynamic start to the season, when they topped the table and competed in the Europa League, with misty eyed nostalgia. Three points against Bray would now help protect them from a relegation play-off. How things change.



Dundalk
Injured: Alan Cawley, Garry Breen.
Doubtful: Mathew Tipton.
Suspended: Stephen Maher, Tom Miller.

Bray Wanderers
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Jake Kelly (Shoulder), John Mulroy (Back).
Suspended: None.

Referee:D McKeon.
Extratime prediction: A 1-1 draw.