EA Sports Cup Preview: Drogheda United -v- Bray Wanderers

• Gerard Grimes
• Tue, Apr 04 2017




DROGHEDA UNITED

Pete Mahon’s side will be looking to put an end to a barren spell which has seen them lose their last five league games as they take on Bray Wanderers (kick-off 7.45pm).

 

After recording back to back victories over Galway United and St. Patrick’s Athletic to open their league campaign, the Louth side have since lost to Cork, Bray, Derry, Bohemians and most recently, Dundalk.

 

Drogheda haven’t been short of chances in front of goal but it has been their inability to take their chances which has cost the Boynesiders in recent games.

 

This is a point that Mahon raised last week when speaking to www.droghedaunited.ie ahead of Friday’s Louth Derby defeat to Dundalk.

 

“We should’ve won the game (vs Bohemians) based on the chances we created,” Mahon told the club's website.

 

Even going back to the Derry game, it was unbelievable that we didn’t score in the first-half as we had three great chances and it was the same story at the weekend.”

 

Drogheda are expected to again be without Killian Brennan as the midfielder continues his recovery from injury.

 

Ciaran McGuigan was sent off in the defeat to Dundalk on Friday but will be available for the cup clash against Bray.

 

BRAY WANDERERS

Harry Kenny will be hoping Bray can record a result similar to the one they recorded the last time these two sides met less than a month ago.

 

In that league game at the Carlisle Grounds, goals from Aaron Green and Dylan Connolly were enough to give Bray all three points despite Ciaran McGuigan’s strike for the visitors.

 

Bray lost their following two games, falling to a 3-2 defeat to Sligo which was followed by a 1-0 defeat at home to Limerick.

 

However, the Seagulls sit fourth in the Premier Division after bouncing back on Friday night to inflict a first defeat of the season on Derry City.

 

Gary McCabe and Aaron Greene gave Bray a 2-0 lead at half time before Derry fought back to level the game. However, Tim Clancy’s 93^rd minute header won the game for Bray.

 

 

Referee: TBC

 

 

MATCH STATS

Drogheda United have found the net just six times in their seven league games this season, with half of those goals coming in their first two games.

 

Meanwhile, Bray Wanderers have scored sixteen times in their seven league games, scoring at least two goals in six games and failing to score just once, in the 1-0 defeat to Limerick.

 

Despite being the second highest scoring team in the league after Cork, only Sligo have conceded more goals than Bray this season. The Seagulls have conceded the same number of goals as Drogheda, fourteen.

 

 

BETTING

Drogheda United 23/10; Draw 12/5; Away 10/11.

 

PREDICTION

Drogheda United 1-2 Bray Wanderers

 

 

Drogheda United

Injured: Killian Brennan (broken collarbone).

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: Unavailable.

 

Bray Wanderers

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: Unavailable.