Credit: Martin Doherty (ETPhotos)
League Preview: Bray Wanderers -v- Limerick
- Dave Donnelly
- Fri, Sep 15 2017
BRAY WANDERERS
Bray Wanderers will look to pick up rare back-to-back league victories when they welcome Limerick to the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).
Bray picked up their first win in eight competitive last time out against Drogheda United thanks to goals in either half from Hugh Douglas and Aaron Greene.
That game was almost a month ago, however, as their absence from the FAI Cup and Irn-Bru Cup involvement has seen a big hole open in their schedule.
They filled that gap with friendlies, a 3-1 win over Wexford and 5-0 defeat to Waterford at the Carlisle Grounds, the latter of which is now subject to a Garda fraud investigation.
Instability on and off the field has hampered the Seagulls' efforts to secure European football this season and the best they can now realistically hope for is a fifth-place finish.
The players were visibly affected by the financial problems that engulfed the club over the summer and this latest controversy is unlikely to help in that regard.
Midfielder Mark Salmon is suspended for Harry Kenny's side but there is no other team news.
LIMERICK
Inconsistency has been Limerick's biggest downfall this season as promising results have frequently been followed by poor losses.
The 2-0 defeat to ten-man Finn Harps two weeks ago was a bitter pill for the Blues to swallow a week after overcoming the same opposition in the FAI Cup.
Neil McDonald's side had previously beaten ended a five-game winless streak with a 1-0 victory over Bohemians, a result that gave them some distance from the relegation spots.
The defeat to Harps leaves the Blues just one point above the Ballybofey side and three points clear of the drop zone, making a result in Bray essential to their survival chances.
Limerick have no suspensions but have released no other team news.
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
MATCH STATS
Bray Wanderers and Limerick have met twice so far this season with the Blues running out winners on both occasions.
The first meeting in the Carlisle Grounds in March ended in a 1-0 victory for Martin Russell's side thanks to a Shane Duggan strike.
The return game in the Markets Field ended 5-3 to the Blues as Bastien Hery and Dean Clarke scored in the dying minutes after Limerick had blown an early 2-0 lead.
BETTING
Bray Wanderers 8/5; Draw 5/2; Limerick 8/5.
PREDICTION
Bray Wanderers 0 – 1 Limerick
Bray Wanderers
Injured: Unavailable.
Doubtful: Unavailable.
Suspended: Mark Salmon.
Limerick
Injured: Unavailable.
Doubtful: Unavailable.
Suspended: None.
