League Preview: Bray Wanderers -v- Athlone Town

• Simon O'Gorman
• Thu, Jul 31 2014




BRAY WANDERERS

The bottom two teams in the Premier Division meet at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night and with just twelve league games remaining it is a crucial game for both sides.

 

Bray go into the game with a six point gap separating them from rock bottom Athlone but the Seagull’s form has been miserable of late and seeing that gap cut in half would do nothing for morale at the County Wicklow club.

 

Bray have picked up just one point from the last 27 available, recording eight defeats and just a single draw - against fellow strugglers UCD - in their last nine league outings. Furthermore, the scale of defeat has increased with the bray defence conceding at least three goals in each of their last six league matches.

 

In fact, with 24 goals conceded in that six-game run, Bray’s opponents have averaged four goals apiece, which is relegation talk in anybody’s language.

 

At the other end Bray have had an equally troubled time, scoring just four goals in nine league games. Of those, Jake Kelly has contributed three with Ismahil Akinade finally netting his first goal of the season last weekend in the 5-1 defeat away to league leaders Dundalk.

 

If Bray are to end their nine match winless streak they will have to do so without the injured duo of Adam Hanlon and Dave Webster, while Alan Mathews may also be without Dave Scully, Gary Curran and Shane O’Neill who are all rated as doubtful.

 

The recent arrival of striker Philly Hughes from Drogheda United needs to pay off if Mathews’ men are to enjoy a change in fortune while the club have also recruited Michael Barker from UCD and Joe Gorman from Inverness Caledonian Thistle. 

 

ATHLONE TOWN

Athlone manager Keith Long knows Bray well, having worked there alongside Pat Devlin, and he will be returning to the the Carlisle Grounds for the first time since taking over at Athlone following Mick Cooke’s departure in late April.

 

Long’s first league game in charge of the Midlanders was a home fixture against Bray at Lisseywoolen and the scoreless draw on that occasion gave Athlone their first league point of the season.

 

The three wins and two draws that Athlone have yielded since Long’s arrival represents a significant turnaround but Athlone have lost three of their last four games and are still six points away from the rest of the pack.

 

Beating Bray on Friday night would put Athlone right back in the hunt for Premier Division survival and Athlone have just enough positive momentum to make them the more likely pre-match favourites, despite what the bookies might say.

 

Recent defeats to Dundalk and St Pats can be written off given the reality of the league table, but a 3-0 dismissal of Limerick three weeks ago gives some hint of Athlone’s potential against lesser opposition.

 

A glance at Athlone’s away form under Long also gives rise to hope with single goal defeats at Shamrock Rovers and Cork City being followed by a creditable 2-2 draw against Bohemians at Dalymount Park. The most recent defeat in Oriel Park rounds off Long’s four game away record which, while yielding just a single point, is far from catastrophic.

 

Athlone will have new signing Dylan Hayes in their match day squad although David Brookes and Jason Marks have been released while defender Neil Harney has decided to leave the club. Hayes played for Athlone in their recent friendly against Dundee United having returned to Ireland from a three year spell at Derby County.

 

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

 

 

MATCH STATS

Bray Wanderers have failed to score in six of their last nine league games. In the same period Athlone have failed to score in five.

 

Philip Gorman tops the Athlone scoring charts with six, while Dave Scully is Bray’s top marksman on four. Jake Kelly has seven for Bray in total but that includes four in cup competition.

 

Athlone Town have yet to win away from home in the league with their only away victory of 2014 coming in the EA Sports Cup when they defeated Wexford Youths 4-1 at Ferrycarrig Park.

 

 

BETTING

Bray 7/5; Draw 11/5; Athlone 9/5.

 

PREDICTION

Bray 1-2 Athlone

 

 

Bray Wanderers

Injured: Dave Webster, Adam Hanlon.
Doubtful: Shane ‘Neill, Gary Curran, Dave Scully.
Suspended: None.

 

Athlone Town

Injured: Unavailable.
Doubtful: Unavailable.
Suspended: None.