Bray Wanderers -v- Drogheda United

• Daire Walsh
• Thu, Apr 14 2011


Bray Wanderers will look to continue their promising start to the season when they welcome bottom placed Drogheda United to the Carlisle Grounds tomorrow evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

Pat Devlin's side currently find themselves in fifth place in the Airtricity Premier Division table (just three points off league leaders Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers) with ten points from a possible 18 thus far this season. Mick Cooke’s Drogheda United, on the other hand, are still searching for their first victory of the campaign, having secured just two points from their six games to date.

However, Bray will head into this encounter without the services of long-term absentees Gary Shaw and Stephen Brennan, who continue to be sidelined with foot and calf injuries respectively. Joe Kendrick is also something of a doubt with a thigh strain and will face a late fitness test.

Bray go into this game on a particular high following their surprise 1-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium last Friday evening. Speaking during the week, Director Of Football Devlin was understandably delighted with the victory, but was particularly pleased that their defence remained unbreached for the duration of the game.

“It was pleasing and the most pleasing thing is that we got the three points and kept a clean sheet. We set out our stall and adapted well, it was a great goal that won the game for us with a great build up. It was an excellent team performance but we won't get carried away”, Devlin stated.

Though Bray are, somewhat surprisingly, still looking for their first home win of the season (their three victories so far have come on the road), they will nevertheless be favourites to come away with the three points from this game. Devlin is not taking anything for granted though, and he expects to face a stern test from the struggling Louth side.

“It will be a tough assignment, they are a well marshaled and organised side. We have already played them in the E.A. Sports Cup and we were beaten, so we know what to expect", Devlin added.

In terms of the personnel available, Drogheda do have one doubt in the form of Stephen McCrossan, who has been suffering with a groin strain, but they are expected to welcome back Alan McNally, who took part in training this week after a recent injury lay-off.

Having managed Monaghan United against Bray Wanderers in a memorable two-legged play-off at the tail end of last season, Drogheda supremo Cooke will be familiar with the qualities that the North Wicklow side possess. Having only been in charge at Drogheda for a few games Cooke admits that his side are still trying to settle into the new regime, but he was nonetheless encouraged by what he saw the last day out against Galway United.

“The mood in the camp is very good at the moment. Galway were certainly the better team in the second half last week and it was good to come away from it with a point. But we are still a team trying to settle and I had made five changes to the side”, Cooke commented.

Cooke is fully aware that the home side will be favourites to come out on top, but he believes that his troops are capable of getting something from tie, especially with their E.A. Sports Cup victory over the same opposition in mind.

“Bray will be confident that they can take all three points, but we will have different thoughts on that. It is a bit of a boost that we have already won there this season, but that was in the cup, the pressures of the league are totally different”, Cooke remarked.

?Traditionally speaking, there is usually very little between these two sides, and Drogheda United are unbeaten on their last six visits to the Carlisle Grounds. Indeed, on their two visits to the venue last season, Drogheda came away with a share of the spoils, even after falling 2-0 behind on their trip there last May.

For this reason, another tight game should be expected tomorrow evening, though it should also prove to be a rather open affair. However, taking the confidence levels of the two teams into account, then Bray should have just enough to come away with their fourth triumph of the season

Bray Wanderers
Injured: Gary Shaw, Stephen Brennan.
Doubtful: Joe Kendrick.
Suspended: None.

Drogheda United
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Stephen McCrossan.
Suspended: None.

Referee: Rob Rogers (Dublin).
Paddy Power odds: Bray Wanderers 4/7; Draw 13/5; Drogheda United 5/1.
Extratime prediction: Bray Wanderers 2-1 Drogheda United.