Bray Vs. Kilkenny Preview

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Seagulls eye three points

Bray Wanderers will be expected to see off the challenge of basement side Kilkenny City this evening (Friday) in order to keep up the pressure on leaders Finn Harps, and maybe even displace them should the Donegal side come unstuck against Limerick.

The second-placed Seagulls maintained their momentum with a 3-0 win in a tempestuous clash at Kildare County last weekend, a game in which four players were sent off.

Wesley Charles was the sole Bray player dismissed and he will have to sit out this one as a result.

On a positive note striker Eamon Zayed shrugged aside the disappointment of being left out of the Ireland under-20 squad for the forthcoming World Youth Cup to bag another brace and now has surpassed his 20-goal target for all competitions this season.

The Green and Whites have the best home record in the First Division and it will be a major surprise if they don’t extend it to fifteen matches with victory over their lowly opponents.

Bray shaded the verdict on a 2-1 scoreline when the sides met at this venue earlier in the campaign. Stephen Fox and Paul Forsyth were on the mark on that occasion but they needed a late penalty save from goalkeeper Chris O’Connor to secure the points.

Zayed scored twice and Forsyth netted the other as they returned from their second meeting at Buckley Park triumphant by three goals to nil.

Veteran left back Maurice Farrell is fit again for the home side having recovered from knocks on his leg and ankle while Jody Lynch is set to return following a recent operation to remove a piece of floating bone in his ankle. Former St Pats stalwart Eddie Gormley, who took the captain’s armband in Lynch’s absence, is rated doubtful with a groin injury.

New manager Ger Bickerstaffe’s immediate priority is to shore up Kilkenny’s defences and last weekend they earned a scoreless draw in Dundalk. This time they are boosted by the return of goalkeeper David O’Neill from suspension and Niall Andrews recovery from a knee injury. But Lee Quilty is out of the frame with a knee problem.