Bray Wanderers -v- Dundalk

• Eimear Taaffe
• Mon, Sep 20 2010


Dundalk travel to the Carlisle Grounds to take on a resurgent Bray Wanderers on Monday tonight. Kick off 7.45pm. This is the final catch-up game of the 2010 season, the original fixture clashing with Dundalk’s European fixture.

The home side come into the game carrying four injury doubts Danny O'Connor (ankle), Jake Kelly (hamstring), Gary Shaw (knee) and Gary Dempsey (hamstring). The loss of Kelly and Shaw could prove costly for the seagulls as they have been scoring for fun in recent weeks.

Director of Football at Bray Wanderers, Pat Devlin commented that "It will be a very tough game but it is a very important game for us. I would like to be playing it when we were a bit fresher but we will give it everything we have and just hope we get the little breaks it will be 50/50". Bray having played three games already, in the past week.

Dundalk are in a good vein of form of late. This is in stark contrast to their poor league form throughout July and August, as they had nine matches without a win and pressure was ever mounting on manager Ian Foster. However the tides have changed with a victory over Louth rivals Drogheda United and a 5-1 score-fest against league leaders Shamrock Rovers, turning things around for the lilywhites.

It should be noted that although in a low league position, Bray have beaten Dundalk twice this season at Oriel Park, winning 3-2 in April and again two weeks ago winning 2-0 Jake Kelly and Gary Shaw getting the goals. Dundalk have overcome the Bray men once this season with a home win in March. Three of the last four encounters at the seaside venue have ended in draws, so anything is possible in this clash.

It is a vital game for The Seagulls as their aim to remain above bottom of the table rivals Drogheda United and out of the automatic relegation spot. The game is of lesser value to the Ian Fosters Dundalk team who look set to finish mid-table, with six games to go in season 2010. The fixture will be watched with intrigue by fans of both divisions, as speculation continues over the relegation - promotion battle.

paddypower.com odds: Bray Wanderers 15/8 Draw 23/10 Dundalk 13/10
Venue: Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers:
Doubtful: None
Injured: Danny O'Connor, Jake Kelly, Gary Shaw, Gary Dempsey
Suspended: None

Dundalk:
Doubtful: None
Injured: Alan Cawley
Suspended: None

Extratime.ie Prediction: This is a hard one to call, but the losses through injury could be the undoing of Bray Wanderers. Dundalk to win by a one goal margin, probably late in the game.