EA Sports Cup Preview: UCD -v- Bray Wanderers

UCD

UCD have had a difficult start to the 2016 season. They have already lost two of their opening three First Division games, going down 4-1 to Limerick on the opening night while they also lost 3-1 to Waterford United last Friday at the UCD Bowl.

The Students’ lone league victory came earlier this month when they saw off Cabinteely 2-1 while they also picked up a win against Leinster Senior League side Crumlin United in the 4th round of the Leinster Senior Cup.

Speaking on tomorrow night’s game UCD manager Collie O’Neill is fully aware that his squad will have to perform a lot better if they are to eliminate Bray in the EA Sports Cup.

“We know we will have to play a lot better on Tuesday than we have been if we are to have a chance of progressing in this competition.

“Bray Wanderers are going to be an extremely tough test for us. It is always difficult playing against Premier Division opposition. They are in a similar position to us and will be disappointed with the start they have made. They have made a number of good signings over the winter and will be looking to push on now over the coming weeks as their side begins to gel.”

Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters and Ryan Swan are fit to face their former club but Jason Byrne is set to miss out due to a niggling calf injury which has already seen him ruled out of all of UCD’s opening games so far this season.

Also on the injury list are Cathal Brady, Jack Watson, Samir Belhout and Gregg Sloggett while Brian Shortall will be absent as he serves the final game of his three match ban having been dismissed against Limerick in the Colleges opening League game.

BRAY WANDERERS

Bray Wanderers’ start to the 2016 campaign has also been far from ideal. The Seagulls picked up their first point of the Premier Division season away to Longford last Saturday night following heavy defeats to Derry City, Galway United and Dundalk which has seen them rooted to the bottom of the Premier Division table after four games.

Mick Cooke will see tomorrow night’s EA Sports Cup game as a welcome distraction from their poor league form and will hope that new signings such as Ryan Brennan, Dylan Connolly and Jason Marks will take the opportunity to gel, secure a positive result and hopefully spark the beginning of a lengthy cup run.

Referee: Michael O’Connor

MATCH STATS

UCD haven’t progressed beyond the First Round of the EA Sports Cup since 2012. The Students have twice finished as runners-up. They lost 2-1 to Derry City in the 2005 final and also went down 5-3 over two legs against St Patrick’s Athletic in 2001.

The furthest Bray have made it in recent years was the 2008 quarter-final where they lost 3-0 to Galway United.

The last time these two sides met was during the 2014 Premier Division campaign where Wanderers ran out 2-0 winners.

This will be the fiftieth meeting between the two clubs in all competitions. Interestingly, the head-to-head record shows that both sides have picked up seventeen wins each while sharing fifteen draws.  

BETTING

UCD 7/4; Draw 12/5; Bray Wanderers 6/5

PREDICTION

UCD 1-2 Bray Wanderers

UCD

Injured: Samir Belhout, Cathal Brady, Jason Byrne, Greg Sloggett, Jasck Watson

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Brian Shortall

Bray Wanderers

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.