Bray Wanderers (H)

[culloty82]

It's fair to describe the Seagulls as our bogey opponents, given that in the eight previous H2H encounters, we've earned the grand total of one point! Still, the Wicklow side don't appear to particularly merit any dread this term, having laboured to victory over Longford, and being decisively defeated away to Wexford on Friday. On the injury front, Kelliher will remain on the sidelines for the foreseeable future, and while Alabi is returning to fitness, Conor McCarthy said yesterday that he doesn't want to rush him back too soon, so Adams in for Mujaguzi is likely to be the only change in the starting XI. The Dundalk result could hardly be described as a setback, given we could have gone further behind before the push for the equaliser in the second half, but to build on the momentum in performances and attendances, we could really do with all three points to consolidate any mid-table ambitions.

[legendz]

Bray the bogey team alright. This Friday is actually a more important game really. A game where there will be expectation to get a result, while aware of the threat of Bray. Unlucky early last season with a sending off against Bray. Adams might be the only change alright but Williams wasn't great last Friday. If they have any doubts based on training during the week, not sure who they might slot in instead.

[Zico]

Is Adam’s not banned for 3 games after straight red - thought he will miss this one too?

Big game - playing against a team that now look likely to be hovering between 5th and 8th. These are the home games we just have to find a way to win.

1-0 win hopefully.

[culloty82]

Two-game ban, apparently.

[listowelceltic]

Centre back is a problem for this one. With Sam and Alabi injured and Kevin clearly not a centre half in a back four our options are limited. Brookwell in there again or try Farqhausen? Adams back again is a big boost.Also thought Dunne was much improved against Dundalk.
Hopefully a big crowd attends. Really does help.
I'm going for a 2 1 win.

[legendz]

Difficult to move Brookwell from midfield though they might. I think they'll go with Williams again despite the first half last week.
With Adams coming back in, there's a decision to be made on who loses out. Dan has to start after his creativity last week. I don't think they'll be changing the structure and personnel too much from the opening games so far.

[Zico]

Another frustrating night, in the end Bray deserved it for the way they closed out the last 30mins in a very controlled fashion to be fair.

My fears at the start of the season that we have a ceiling of around 40 points due to a lack of attacking threat (and dependence on RK) are now becoming a reality. 3 blanks in a row, we can say chances are been created and not taken but it’s the manner we are playing in that is most disappointing - it’s just lump it forward and hope for a long throw in or a corner, everything seems rushed and panicked when chasing the game. The crowds will fall away very quickly if this style of football continues - we have better players than that to be honest.

[kingdomkerry]

I'd agree that the first half vs Dundalk was pure goofball improved in te second half but the likes of Dunne were crossing from just beyond the half way line a bit.

To be fair I thought we mixed it up alot better against Bray and played spells of nice football. Some of the long balls were more dinky punts up the line beyond the full backs for to lads to run on to. And of course when chasing a game there is a tendency to go long more. But I don't think it is tactical. Macca gave McQueen a bollocking for hoofing when the short ball into midfield was on.

A very disappointing couple of weeks where we dominated and pressed for most of the games. How many cleared off the line. How many goal mouth scrambles. How many stonewall penalties. 3 last night alone. And 2 calamities in the back meaning we had to chase the game.

On to Longford but we need a goal scorer and bar Ryan we don't have one.

[Zico]

Yes definitely no hiding from 3 blatant pens last night and maybe Lady Luck not on our side either - we play Dundalk and their keeper puts in a dominant MOTM performance, and then last night their keeper (different guy) has an absolute howler to gift Treaty an unlikely point. We are definitely not getting that rub of the green right now.

My frustration is when we are chasing the game we panic very early and start hoofing, I think some of it might be down to pressure and expectations that have not been there in the past, there is a decent wage bill every week now - it’s a different level to last 2 seasons. It literally is a results business now and that brings pressure. We need to handle it better.

Langford is important, took a big hammering last night so there for the taking.

On a positive, thought Luke Palmer had a good game showing nice touches and good composure on ball, very unlucky not to score, a bright future.

Also, last nights attendance was healthy in around 700 mark, especially seeing as attendance can drop massively when we play at home 2 consecutive weekends, can’t understand why they don’t just keep the fixtures to a simple home and away every other week, we now have 3 weeks before next home game having played 3 home games in the space of 4 weekends.

Overall we are averaging around 900, up nearly 50% (granted the Dundalk sell out helps). There also looks like a lot more sponsorship has come. All this is important for sustainability and help club pay for itself rather than rely heavily on owner injecting serious money every year (still will be part funded no doubt though)

[dansultheman]

While it certainly feels like what could have been in the last two games, we should be going to Longford with a chip on the shoulder, Abel, Adams & Gleeson back, rumor's of a new #9 have been confirmed was already in training. If we can get our best XI on the pitch, we will pick up a lot of points and we’re only 4 games in, 32 to go!

Terrible goal to give away, a calamity of errors. With the stonewall penalties, we still had plenty of chances to score, great saves by their GK. Our other attacking players have to pick up with some goals, we can’t always rely on Kelliher.

It’s fair to say that a win vs Longford away would be a huge boost but we have to at least get a result to keep tabs of the playoff spots.