Shamrock Rovers -v- Bray Wanderers

• Macdara Ferris
• Mon, Sep 30 2013




SHAMROCK ROVERS

For teams with something to play for at this time of the season, every game is “must win” match. Shamrock Rovers, who take on Bray Wanderers in Tallaght Stadium on Monday night (kick off 8pm), know that if they can get a win and results go their way, they can go above Derry City, who play in Dundalk, in the race for fourth spot in the Airtricity League.

 

The Hoops come into the game on the back of a confidence boosting 3-1 league win over Drogheda United last Friday. This got them back to winning ways after a very poor performance in their 2-0 league loss in Limerick in their previous match [see extratime.ie interview with Trevor Croly discussing those two games here].

 

 “It was a good night for us on Friday,” said Croly speaking to www.shamrockrovers.ie about their fourth win in a row over Drogheda United.  “We got a good win and closed the gap a bit between ourselves and Derry. Now this is a chance to close the gap even further. But games between ourselves and Bray are always tight, so we will have to put in a good performance to get the result we want.”

 

BRAY WANDERERS

The Seagulls travel to Tallaght on Monday desperately seeking any kind of result to try and get out of the relegation battle they are currently in. Bray have only one win in their last 16 competitive matches, not having won a league game since June. In their most recent match last Thursday, they went down 3-1 at home to league leaders St. Patrick’s Athletic. That was their fifth league defeat in their last six games. Ismahil Akinade scored for the Seagulls in that match and the Nigerian born striker has six league goals to his name so far this season.

 

Thankfully for Bray Director of Football Pat Devlin, he has virtually a full squad to choose from (only the suspended Dave Webster is missing). “I was disappointed not to have taken something from Thursday night's game,” said Devlin. “I expect Mondaynight to be a tough game, as it always is in Tallaght,”

 

Devlin can take heart from his team’s last game against the Hoops, when they shut Rovers out and earned a point in a 0-0 draw at the Carlisle Grounds. Bray currently sit in second last place in the league table, a point ahead of Shelbourne. With UCD not playing till Friday, it is a chance for Bray to close the five point gap on the team directly above them in the table.

 

Referee: Derek Tomney.

 

MATCH STATS

Shamrock Rovers are eight games unbeaten against Bray Wanderers with five of those games ending in wins for the Hoops. Bray’s last win over Rovers was back in May 2011 when Jake Kelly’s solitary goal earned the Seagulls a win. Another 1-0 win for Bray in April that year was Wanderers’ last win in Tallaght.

 

When the sides met earlier this season at Tallaght Stadium, Rovers ran out comprehensive 7-0 winners. That was the Hoops’ largest winning margin in a league game for over 30 years.

 

Former Bray Wanderers player Gary McCabe comes into the game in rich goalscoring form. He has found the back of the net seven times from his last nine games for Rovers. He has scored 10 goals in all competitions, two behind Rovers top scorer Ronan Finn who has 12. Jason Byrne is the top league goalscorer for Bray with 13 strikes to his name.

 

 

BETTING

Shamrock Rovers 2/7; Draw 15/4; Bray Wanderers 10/1.

 

PREDICTION

2-0 Home win.

 

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Barry Murphy (calf), Conor Powell (Achilles).                            

Suspended: None.

 

Bray Wanderers

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Dave Webster.