SSE Airtricity League Premier Division
Waterford FC -v- Bray Wanderers
Friday, September 14, 2018
Kick Off: 7.45pm
Referee: Neil Doyle
Waterford FC are back in Premier Division action in the RSC for the first time in six weeks this Friday to face Bray Wanderers.
The Blues come into the game after a disappointing exit from the FAI Cup away to UCD last Friday. A below-par performance saw UCD advance to the semi final with a 2-1 win.
The last Premier Division action saw the Blues lose 3-0 in Richmond Park against St Patrick’s Athletic and this Friday’s return to the RSC is a welcome change – the Blues have lost just twice at the RSC in 14 league games.
The Blues have faced Bray three times this season, winning one and drawing two. The first meeting was a 3-0 win at home with Faysel Kasmi and Derek Daly on the scoresheet. The second and third games ended in draws; 2-2 (Gavan Holohan and Courtney Duffus on the scoresheet) and 0-0 in the most recent clash.
Speaking ahead of the game, Blues manager Alan Reynolds said:
“The defeat last week in UCD was disappointing. Credit to UCD they took their chances but we felt it was one of our poorest performances and it was very frustrating. We’ve spoken about it as a group and we’re all sticking together and looking to Friday.
“We haven’t had a home game for six weeks so it’ll be nice to be back at the RSC. To get a big home crowd behind us will be great.
“The table might show a big gap between us and Bray but they’ve given us too really two games away from home and they aren’t going to make life easy for us. We need to raise our game in front of our home crowd and that’s what we’ll look to do.”
TEAM NEWS: Cory Galvin (knee) and Derek Daly (groin) miss the game while John Martin (ankle) is now available for selection. Noel Hunt (groin) is 50/50 but Courtney Duffus misses out with an on-going groin problem. Bastien Hery is suspended. Sander Puri returns from international duty.
