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Bray Wanderers -v- Derry City
- Finbarr O'Sullivan
- Fri, Apr 01 2011
Bray Wanderers host Derry City at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night in the Airtricity League Premier Division. Kick-off is at 7.45.
Both sides have been on a good run of late in the league. After both teams lost their respective opening fixtures, both have recovered and are unbeaten in their last three league games. Wanderers have beaten both St. Patrick's Athletic (3-2) and UCD (1-0) away and drew with Sligo Rovers at home. Derry have drawn with champions Shamrock Rovers (home) and Drogheda United (away). They also went to UCD and came away with all three points.
Both teams were in action in the EA Sports Cup on Monday night. The Candystripes were victorious when they traveled to Drom and overcame Salthill Devon 4-2 after extra-time. Meanwhile, the Seagulls' lost 1-0 at home to Drogheda United.
During the week, Pat Devlin, Director of Football for the hosts, spoke of his delight after the Seagulls' win over UCD in the Belfield Bowl last Friday: "We had to dig out a great result in difficult conditions but we did that and I am very happy." In the build-up to this game, Devlin is aware that the game will not be an easy one and it could be indicative of the whole season for the Wicklow side: "We will have to work really hard. It's something we will have to do all season to get points."
Bray go into this game without striker Gary Shaw and defender Dave Webster. Shaw broke his toe in Monday night's match against Drogheda, while Webster is suspended. Doubts remain over the fitness of Daire Doyle and Joe Kendrick and they will undergo fitness tests before tomorrow night's fixture.
Candystripes boss Stephen Kenny praised his teams' opponents in the build up to the game: "Pat Devlin has assembled a good team this season. They have got off to a good start." Focusing on his own side, Kenny added that he feels City can improve: "I feel our performances to date have been good yet there is room for improvement and we will be striving for that this time out."
The visitors will go into Friday night's game without the injured duo of Barry Molloy and Michael McCrudden. Molloy misses out with an ankle ligament injury while McCrudden is unavailable owing to a rib injury. Derry will also be without the services of Patrick McEleney who is ineligible.
Bray Wanderers
Injured: Gary Shaw (toe)
Doubtful: Daire Doyle (hamstring) and Joe Kendrick (thigh)
Suspended: Dave Webster
Derry City
Injured: Barry Molloy (ankle ligaments) and Michael McCrudden (ribs)
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Ineligible: Patrick McEleney
Referee: Graham Kelly
Paddy Power odds: Bray 9/4 - Draw 11/5 - Derry - 23/20
extratime.ie prediction: 1-1
About Finbarr O'Sullivan
Currently working in Brazil, Finbarr will be giving his take on Brazilian football in his regular Extratime.ie column. Finbarr peviously studied in Spain and worked in the Czech Republic and had regular column pieces on …