PREVIEW: Bray Wanderers vs UCD

• Finbarr O'Sullivan
• Thu, Mar 13 2008




Bray Wanderers entertain UCD in their first home game of the season as both sides look to claim their first wins of the new campaign. In what is expected to be an early-season relegation battle, both teams will be confident of coming away with the points at the Carlisle Grounds.

Bray held Cork City to a 0-0 draw last Friday in Turner's Cross and the squad will have been happy to take a point from a tough match. The only negative from the match was the sending off of Patrick Kavanagh.

UCD began their 2008 campaign with a 3-2 defeat to Derry City in the newly-opened Belfield Bowl. The Students matched Derry in the second-half only for Peter Hutton to grab an 88th minute winner for the away side.

Bray Wanderers go into this match with Patrick Kavanagh serving a one-match ban following his red card last Friday. Andy Myler is expected to come into the side as manager Eddie Gormley could switch from a 4-5-1 to a 4-4-2 formation. The Seagulls have no new injury concerns with defenders Kevin Doherty and Derek Foran still sidelined with hamstring problems.

After Bray's 0-0 draw with Cork, Gormley said: "We must now capitalise on that performance and take it into Friday's game and hopefully get the three points."

UCD are expected to make no changes to the match squad that faced Derry last Friday night. UCD manager Pete Mahon could go with the same side that started in the Belfield Bowl opener.

Speaking before Friday's match, Mahon said: "When we play the so-called teams that are expected to be around us we have to get points but it's more important to get them after last week's result."

Several players from both clubs will be lining out against former employees. UCD's Matt Gregg had a spell with Bray before moving to Bohemians while on the Bray team Alan Cawley, Andy Myler and Gavin Whelan have all played for UCD in the past. The suspended Kavanagh is also an ex-Student.

Probable line-ups:
Bray Wanderers: O’Connor; Pender, Kenny, Tresson, Cronin; McCabe, Cawley, Duggan, Whelan; Myler, Rowe.
UCD: Gregg; Mahon, Shortall, Kenna, Bermingham; Finn, McNally, King, McWalter; Byrne, Purcell.