League Preview: Dundalk -v- Bray Wanderers

• Niall Newberry
• Fri, Apr 14 2017




Two of the SSE Airtricity League’s form teams will go head-to-head on Friday night when second-placed Dundalk welcome third-placed Bray Wanderers to Oriel Park.

 

DUNDALK

Stephen Kenny’s side have won in each of their six previous matches at Oriel stretching back to last season and will be hoping to maintain a 100% home record when in-form Bray come to town.

 

“We have had a good record in our home games so far”, said Kenny.

 

“We have won the four games that we have played at Oriel Park and we want to continue that. Some of our new signings have integrated well over the last few weeks and have made a good impact.

 

“Bray are going very well themselves. They have had a good start to the season. It’s an exciting game in prospect at Oriel but we want to continue our good home form and hopefully we can get the victory on Friday night.”

 

The champions are without the injured Robbie Benson and Sean Gannon, who have both been ruled out for the next two months due to hamstring problems while Shane Grimes is a long-term absentee.

 

Apart from that, Kenny has a full squad to choose from after captain Stephen O’Donnell, who missed six matches with a thigh injury, made a cameo appearance in last week’s 2-0 win against Finn Harps.

 

Patrick McEleney is also back in contention to start after missing both wins over Drogheda United and Harps while Paddy Barrett, who sat out last week’s game as well, is again available for selection.

 

BRAY WANDERERS

Bray have also won their last two league matches against Derry City and Galway United respectively to maintain their best ever start to a Premier Division campaign.

 

That’s testament to the remarkable job Harry Kenny has done since taking over as manager in April of last year – Kenny has to date won an impressive 17 from his 33 league matches in charge.

 

Despite this form however, less than 500 were in attendance as The Seagulls defeated Galway 1-0 at the Carlisle Grounds last week leaving the Bray manager, like many others, dumbfounded.

 

“It was very disappointing to see a small crowd in the Carlisle considering our two away wins against Derry and Drogheda and our position in the table. Friday will be a very difficult game up in Dundalk but we go there with confidence”, he told the club’s official website.

 

“It was very pleasing to come away from last week with three victories and a clean sheet versus Galway United particularly after going down to ten men with half an hour left in the game.”

 

The visitors are severely depleted in defence with Hugh Douglas, Conor Earley and Kevin Lynch all missing through injury while Conor Kenna is suspended following his sending off against Galway.

 

Referee: Jim McKell

 

MATCH FACTS

This will be the 68th meeting between Dundalk and Bray Wanderers and The Lilywhites have the upper hand, winning 31 to The Seagulls 20.

 

Bray have suffered defeat in each of their last six visits to Oriel Park – their last win at the Louth venue was a 2-0 win in May 2012.

 

Peter Cherrie, Derek Foran, John Sullivan and Anto Flood have all played for Dundalk while Gary Rogers, Dane Massey and Chris Shields are formerly of Bray.

 

BETTING

Dundalk 4/9; Draw 10/3; Bray Wanderers 6/1

 

PREDICTION

Dundalk 4-2 Bray Wanderers

 

Dundalk

Injured: Robbie Benson, Sean Gannon, Shane Grimes.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

 

Bray Wanderers

Injured: Hugh Douglas, Conor Earley, Kevin Lynch.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Conor Kenna.