Cork City will be looking to continue their impressive form as they travel to the Carlisle Grounds to take on Bray Wanderers tomorrow night.
Last Friday’s win over Derry City, combined with defeat for Bohemians on Saturday, means that Paul Doolin’s side are now three points clear at the top of the table after a third of the season. Eddie Gormley’s side were defeated by two goals to one at Turner’s Cross earlier in the season, and City have not looked back from that win, winning six out of their seven league matches since.
Speaking ahead of the game, City manager Paul Doolin told
CorkCityFC.ie: “Last week was a tough game, and it was a fantastic win for us. I think we played really well in the first half and played some very good football. Maybe on another day we could have scored another goal or two, but Derry having a man sent off did disrupt the game, maybe even more for us than for them. Derry have been together a lot longer as a team than we have; we have only been together four months and people are still getting to know each other and getting used to working with each other. In any league, to have 25 points out of a possible 27 is fantastic and we are really pleased with our form.”
While tomorrow’s opponents may be struggling at the other end of the table, they have had some good results this season, including a win over Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght, and Doolin says that his side will face a tough test against the Wicklow side. “Bray are a young side and having managed UCD myself, I know that managing a young side can be difficult, but they are a good side and have some good players. I was at their game against Drogheda a few weeks ago and they were unlucky not to have got something out of that game. We have been very good on the road this season, and we are confident in our own abilities. It is important that we try to pick up another three points on Friday night, but we will give Bray Wanderers the same respect that we give Bohs, Derry and every other club we play.”
Danny Murphy will return from suspension for the tie, but Stephen O’Donnell was sent off on his return from injury and he is therefore suspended for the trip to Bray. While injuries have reduced the selection options available to Doolin in recent weeks, his side has nonetheless maintained their good run and Doolin is full of praise for his squad: “Having to rejig the team last week was a bit awkward, and I must give credit to Robert Mezeckis, because I think he put the group before himself. I don’t think he was 100% fit but we needed him to play and he did. The squad is not that big and that doesn’t leave you much margin, especially when you’re trying to deal with a number of injuries.”
Doolin confirmed that Mezeckis is likely to miss out, along with a number of his teammates, but Billy Dennehy is in contention for the squad following a hamstring injury. “It was great to see Stephen O’Donnell back last week and Billy Dennehy should be back this week and I’m hoping Neal Horgan will be back in full training as well. I’m not sure yet if Billy will feature, as we don’t want to take risks with a hamstring injury. Robert Mezeckis is likely to be missing for another few weeks, Davin O’Neill is probably about four weeks away from a return with his ankle injury and Shane Duggan has returned to training, but is not likely to be available for a few weeks yet.”
Suspensions: Stephen O’Donnell
Injury News: Neal Horgan (Elbow), Davin O’Neill (Ankle), Billy Dennehy (Hamstring), Shane Duggan (Ankle)
Last Game: Cork City 1-0 Derry City
Form: W W D W W W W D W W
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Originally Posted by forza rovers
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