SSE Airtricity League Premier Division
Bray Wanderers -v- Waterford FC
Monday, May 14, 2018
Kick Off: 7.45pm
Referee: Anthony Buttimer
Waterford FC are back in Premier Division action this Monday when they face Bray Wanderers in the Carlisle Grounds in a fixture that’s been postponed twice this season already.
Both postponements were due to snow, but the Blues did pick up all three points when the sides met last month in the RSC. Faysel Kasmi scored either side of a Derek Daly strike to ensure a 3-0 win.
Alan Reynolds’ side come into Monday’s game after a hard-earned, but deserved, 1-1 draw against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium. Gavan Holohan’s 25-yard strike gave the Blues the lead before Graham Burke levelled in the second half.
That draw sees the Blues sit third in the Premier Division table; two points behind second-placed Dundalk, and three points behind Cork City at the top.
Speaking ahead of the game, Waterford FC manager Alan Reynolds was pleased with the performance against Shamrock Rovers and says his side will be ready for Monday’s trip to Bray.
“I thought in the first half [against Shamrock Rovers] we were excellent. I thought that we controlled it. Coming away from home and missing a few players isn’t ideal but I think that’s nearly the best we’ve played in the first half and I’m delighted.
“It just goes to show how far we’ve come when we are disappointed leaving Tallaght with a point but we don’t have time to pick holes in it.
“We’ve got to dust ourselves down and not dwell on things because we’ve got to be ready for the next game. It’s a game that probably everybody expects us to win, but we played them not so long ago and they could have been a few goals up at half time so we’ll be ready to go again on Monday. We’ll have a few lads back hopefully and we’re already looking forward to it.”
TEAM NEWS: Monday’s game sees the return for David Webster from suspension, while Alan Reynolds expects Kenny Browne to return following a hip injury. Gavan Holohan is a doubt following a knock picked up in Friday’s match, while Garry Comerford (foot) and John Kavanagh (knee) both miss the match through injury.
