SSE Airtricity First Division
Bray Wanderers -v- Waterford FC
Friday, 25th August 2023
Kick-Off: 7.45pm
Referee: Oliver Moran
Waterford FC return to league action this Friday evening with a trip to the Carlisle Grounds to face Bray Wanderers.
Tickets can be purchased here now.
The Blues are six-games unbeaten in the league and have beaten the seasiders twice this season, with the third meeting finishing in a draw.
Monday saw the Blues exit the FAI Cup away to Cork City before the Quarter Final stage but attention now firmly turns to the league and preparation for an important end to the league campaign.
Our last visit to Bray saw a Ronan Coughlan double seal a 2-1 win. The most recent meeting between the teams was back in June when Coughlan and Dean McMenany hit the scoresheet in a 3-1 win in the RSC.
The Blues remain second in the league table with opponents Bray Wanderers in sixth place, fighting for a play-off spot.
Bray also exited the FAI Cup last weekend, falling to a late Dundalk goal to lose out 1-0, while their last league action was a 3-3 draw after coming from 3-1 down.
From The Dugout: Speaking ahead of Friday’s match, head coach Keith Long said:
“Monday [v Cork City] was very disappointing. Conceding so early we never gave ourselves a chance. We didn’t work the goalkeeper enough in the game with the possession we had and conceded some poor goals, so we need to iron that out and be better as a team.
“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves and have to pick ourselves up now. Bray will be a tough game on Friday before another challenging game away to Treaty on Monday, so we have to be ready for a quick turnaround and look to get back to the good recent form we’ve had in the league.”
Team News: Dean McMenamy and Darragh Power returned from injury in Monday’s Cup match, while Shane Griffin also nears a return. Harry Nevin, Barry Baggley and Ronan Coughlas miss out through injury, with the latter’s injury on Monday being assessed by the club’s medical staff. Roland Idowu is suspended.
