Bray Wanderers Universita College Dublin
Meeting of two teams that should be involved in relegation fight as three teams will get relegated this season. In this moment Bray has better team IMO and i think they will secure place in Eircom few rounds before end, i can't say the same about UCD...
Bray started season with great result, 0:0 away against one of the strongest team in Eircom - Cork. In 4-5-1 formation Bray placed all their power in defense and it was good tactic. Especially as they played last few minutes with 10 players, following Kavanagh suspension. In contrast to last season, they look like better team, bringing few new names, like Shamrock attacking duo Myler-Rowe. Yes, they've lost one of the most perspective players in squad - Jay O'Shea, but Whelan, who came from Drogheda, should be more then enough to cover for him. With few another players like Doherty and Pender Bray certainly has quality to avoid relegation, even to be in safe mid-table position.
UCD is relegation candidate, as always. And everytime they managed to somehow stay in league. Last season they were closest to the relegation, only thanks to six point deduction for Longford, they managed to stay in league. This season it will be even harder, league is much more balanced with newcomers Harps and Cobh who can take on few Eircom teams, with three teams getting relegated and UCD team looking weaker then ever.
In this season they will enter without two U21 Ireland internationals - goalkeeper Quigley and striker Conora Sammon. There aren't many substitutes for them, and it's realistic to expect few 18-year old players to take part in first team. UCD is one of the Irish teams with smallest number of supporters and i predict them hard time. Even with all that in mind they managed to perform well in season opener against Derry. They managed to come from 0:2 to 2:2, but didn't had strength to take a lead, in fact they eventually lost 2:3. That match could go either way, but Derry won it and i think it was a bit of shock for home team who managed to fight bravely and come from two behind. Still, it can't really show what this teams are capable of as it seems that Derry will again struggle this season, like that did in last. So, this result against Derry isn't as good as it would be just few seasons ago.
For this match Bray will be without suspended Kavanagh, except him, they should fill almost the same squad like against Cork (without Foran and newcomer Doherty who are long term injuries). UCD should also play in same line-up like in last game.
Bray has home advantage, and probably atmosphere in team is better since they managed to take a point in Cork, in contrast to shocking loss of UCD who managed to came really close to at least a point. Their meetings usually end with tight score, and stake is always high as both will need every point in battle against relegation, but as last season Bray could be more happier after their meetings, i think it will be same this year too. Last season meetings:
2007-10-05 UCD 1-1 Bray
2007-05-29 Bray 2-1 UCD
Bray is currently in better shape, i expect them to capitalize home advantage and push their probable rivals UCD more to the bottom. I'm taking -0,25 AH as there is also probability of draw, although i expect Bray minimal win...
Pick : Bray
Odds : 2.01
Stake : 6 / 10
Bookmaker : Pinnacle
Date : 2008-03-14
Meeting of two teams that should be involved in relegation fight as three teams will get relegated this season. In this moment Bray has better team IMO and i think they will secure place in Eircom few rounds before end, i can't say the same about UCD...
Bray started season with great result, 0:0 away against one of the strongest team in Eircom - Cork. In 4-5-1 formation Bray placed all their power in defense and it was good tactic. Especially as they played last few minutes with 10 players, following Kavanagh suspension. In contrast to last season, they look like better team, bringing few new names, like Shamrock attacking duo Myler-Rowe. Yes, they've lost one of the most perspective players in squad - Jay O'Shea, but Whelan, who came from Drogheda, should be more then enough to cover for him. With few another players like Doherty and Pender Bray certainly has quality to avoid relegation, even to be in safe mid-table position.
UCD is relegation candidate, as always. And everytime they managed to somehow stay in league. Last season they were closest to the relegation, only thanks to six point deduction for Longford, they managed to stay in league. This season it will be even harder, league is much more balanced with newcomers Harps and Cobh who can take on few Eircom teams, with three teams getting relegated and UCD team looking weaker then ever.
In this season they will enter without two U21 Ireland internationals - goalkeeper Quigley and striker Conora Sammon. There aren't many substitutes for them, and it's realistic to expect few 18-year old players to take part in first team. UCD is one of the Irish teams with smallest number of supporters and i predict them hard time. Even with all that in mind they managed to perform well in season opener against Derry. They managed to come from 0:2 to 2:2, but didn't had strength to take a lead, in fact they eventually lost 2:3. That match could go either way, but Derry won it and i think it was a bit of shock for home team who managed to fight bravely and come from two behind. Still, it can't really show what this teams are capable of as it seems that Derry will again struggle this season, like that did in last. So, this result against Derry isn't as good as it would be just few seasons ago.
For this match Bray will be without suspended Kavanagh, except him, they should fill almost the same squad like against Cork (without Foran and newcomer Doherty who are long term injuries). UCD should also play in same line-up like in last game.
Bray has home advantage, and probably atmosphere in team is better since they managed to take a point in Cork, in contrast to shocking loss of UCD who managed to came really close to at least a point. Their meetings usually end with tight score, and stake is always high as both will need every point in battle against relegation, but as last season Bray could be more happier after their meetings, i think it will be same this year too. Last season meetings:
2007-10-05 UCD 1-1 Bray
2007-05-29 Bray 2-1 UCD
Bray is currently in better shape, i expect them to capitalize home advantage and push their probable rivals UCD more to the bottom. I'm taking -0,25 AH as there is also probability of draw, although i expect Bray minimal win...
Pick : Bray
Odds : 2.01
Stake : 6 / 10
Bookmaker : Pinnacle
Date : 2008-03-14