League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Bray Wanderers
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SHAMROCK ROVERS
Easter Monday sees Shamrock Rovers host Bray Wanderers in what will be Rovers' fifth game in the space of two weeks.
The Hoops are without a win in their last two league games and so the Tallaght faithful will be hoping their side can return to winning ways with a victory over a youthful Bray outfit.
Monday's meeting with the Seagulls comes on the back of Rovers rescuing a late point away to Dundalk courtesy of a dramatic injury-time equaliser from Ronan Finn. The ability to grab a much needed late goal is often a hallmark of a successful team and as he confessed to shamrockrovers.ie, one that Rovers manager Trevor Croly places immense value on.
“The players showed excellent character to come back and secure the point on Friday evening. Our players have shown great fitness this season; you can see that in the number of goals we’ve scored in the last 20 minutes”.
Croly will be forced to rejig his defence due to the absence of centre-half and captain Conor Kenna who is suspended after being sent-off in Oriel Park.
Dean Kelly is ruled out with a persisting calf problem whilst winger Sean O'Connor misses out
for a third game in a row with the hamstring injury he sustained away to St. Patrick's Athletic. A bruised foot also puts the participation of influential midfielder Ryan Brennan in doubt.
BRAY WANDERERS
Bray will make the short journey to Tallaght on Monday night hoping to complete an impressive Easter showing with a result that would see them extend their unbeaten run to three games.
The Wicklow side have been plagued by injury in recent weeks, but to their credit, the younger members of the Wanderers squad have stepped up to the plate to give their team four points from their last two games.
The injured six of Danny O'Connor, Jake Kelly, Eric McGill, Adam Hanlon, Shane O'Connor and Shane Byrne all remain sidelined for the Seagulls along with long serving defender David Webster who misses out through suspension.
The Seagulls were unlucky to have not beaten Derry last Friday with Candystripes stopper Ger Doherty denying them an elusive winner with a string of fine saves in a Man of the Match winning performance.
Speaking ahead of Monday's trip to Tallaght, Bray manager Alan Matthews spoke of how Friday's impressive performance will give his young side a confidence boost as they prepare to take on a team with a substantially more formidable look on paper: “We were excellent against Derry. We played really well and on another day would have won. We will take a lot of positives from the game and take them into Monday's game”.
Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin)
MATCH STATS
Wanderers suffered their worst ever League of Ireland defeat since joining the league in 1985 at Tallaght last April with Rovers inflicting a 7-0 mauling on then manager Pat Devlin's side.
Current Rovers striker Eamon Zayed started his League of Ireland career at the Carlisle Grounds and holds the record for the most goals scored by a Bray player in a season with the 19 he scored in the club's 2003 promotion winning campaign.
Rovers are unbeaten in their last eight league games with Bray. The last time the Seagulls came out on top in a league encounter with the Hoops was back in May 2011 when a second-half strike from Graham Kelly gave them a 1-0 victory at the Carlisle Grounds.
BETTING
Shamrock Rovers 3/10; draw 15/4; Bray Wanderers 9/1
PREDICTION
A 2-0 victory for the Hoops
Shamrock Rovers:
Injured: Sean O'Connor (hamstring), Dean Kelly (calf)
Doubtful: Ryan Brennan
Suspended: Conor Kenna
Bray Wanderers:
Injured: Danny O'Connor, Jake Kelly, Eric McGill, Adam Hanlon, Shane O'Connor and Shane Byrne
Doubtful: None
Suspended: David Webster
