Bray Wanderers 2 - 0 Finn Harps - PREVIEW | 2023 League of Ireland First Division | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football

- Carlisle Grounds
Referee:

League Preview: Bray Wanderers -v- Finn Harps

Andrew Dempsey
Thu, May 11 2023

BRAY WANDERERS

Bray Wanderers host First Division play-off rivals Finn Harps on Friday night at the Carlisle Grounds (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

The Seagulls head into Friday’s contest with more than a point to prove after enduring a recent run of poor results over the last few weeks.

Ian Ryan’s side have not won in five games – although their most recent result and performance against Wexford signalled some positivity again.

“All that was missing last week was the end product, final pass, and final decision,” Ryan said. “I thought we performed really well.

“We probably deserved to win the game. What we need to do now is match the performance level with the end result and add the finishing touch.

“If we’ve hit our blip at this stage of the season, and we’re still where we are, we’ll be happy enough.

“What we want to do is get back winning. We can do that. We’ve done that most times when we’ve been at home.”

In terms of team news for Bray, Cole Omorehiomwan returns after a ban, with Max Murphy the last of his three-game suspension.

Player and assistant coach Lorcan Fitzgerald will also serve a one-game ban – while Jake Walker and midfielder Conor Crowley continue to miss out.

Len O’Sullivan is rated as a doubt following his recent injury troubles.

FINN HARPS

Similarly to Bray Wanderers, Finn Harps have also endured a patchy start to the season under new boss Dave Rogers.

The former Shelbourne hero was appointed as the successor to Ollie Horgan following Harps’ relegation to the First Division in December.

However, the Co Donegal side sit in ninth place in the table and have the second worst defensive record in the division with 25 goals conceded.

Despite their struggles, they are just three points off the play-off positions on 14 points.

And they also possess a strong record against Bray Wanderers in recent years at the Carlisle Grounds – unbeaten in their last three games there.

Harps have not issued team news at time of publication but have been boosted by the swift return of Caoimhin Porter from a near-serious injury picked up last month.

Referee: Daniel Murphy.

MATCH STATS

Bray Wanderers are winless in their last four games against Finn Harps – with their last win against Harps arriving in the 2017 Premier Division when they won 3-0 at Finn Park.

Harps however come into the game without a win in their last three games. They have lost their last two games by four goals to one in each game.

But before that they went on a two-game winning streak with wins against Treaty United and Wexford.

The Seagulls have also only picked up two points from their last five games – scoring three and conceding 13. Before that, they had 15 points on the board from eight games played.

PREDICTION

Bray Wanderers 2-0 Finn Harps

Bray Wanderers

Injured: Conor Crowley, Jake Walker.

Doubtful: Len O’Sullivan.

Suspended: Max Murphy, Lorcan Fitzgerald.

Finn Harps

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Suspended: None.