Bray Wanderers Match Preview
League of Ireland First Division
Athlone Town
Friday August 4, Carlisle Grounds
Kick-off 7.45pm
Having had just two home league games in the past 61 days, Bray face in two home fixtures in the space of just four days this coming Bank holiday weekend.
The Wicklow club will entertain Athlone Town on Friday at the Carlisle Grounds as the race for the play-off’s intensifies, before hosting Longford Town by the seaside next Monday.
“It’s a big week – no question” admitted Wanderers Head Coach Ian Ryan.
“We won’t think about Monday just yet. Friday’s a big game first. We’re looking for a performance with a bit of edge; with a bit of personality to us. We trained well Monday and Wednesday. So, hopefully we can take that into the Athlone game.”
Heading into this week on the back two league defeats which has seen the club drop out of the top-five for the first time this season, Ryan went on to state “The games are coming now were everything that has happened before are somewhat irrelevant. We have 12 games to get where we want to get to.”
He continued “It’s one week since the season started (last February) that we’re not in a play-off position. If we do our business on Friday night; we’re back in the equation. We don’t want to get bogged down by that. We obviously haven’t performed to our capabilities the last couple of weeks. But we know that. We’re looking to put that right. “
TEAM NEWS
Vice-captain Dane Massey is available after a ban. But fellow defender Jack Hudson serves the final game of the three-match ban.
Attacker Conor Davis has resumed training after a wrist injury. But is not expected to feature.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Back in April at the Carlisle Grounds, Cole Omorehiomwan goal settled the tie 1-0 in Bray’s favour. But in the reverse fixture at the Athlone Town Stadium in June, the Midlanders recorded a 3-1 victory.