AIRTRICITY RELEGATION/PROMOTION PLAY-OFF
Bray Wanderers survived the battle against a strong Monaghan United team in Gortakeen on Friday night tocome away with a 0-0 draw. This despite losing keeper Matt Gregg late in the game as he was sent off. Monaghan have an awful record in the Carlisle Grounds having lost their previous 12 encounters in the Seagulls ground.
Bray will be missing Matt Gregg and Dave Webster through suspension while long term injury victims Derek Prendergast (ankle), Sean Houston (cruciate) and John Mulroy (hamstring) will also watch from the sidelines. One positive for Bray is the return of centre back Adam Mitchell who missed the away trip through suspension.
Pat Devlin said on http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/1108/bray_monaghan.html
"At the start we were planning for the First Division and then we end up in the Premier and now after a remarkable adventure here we are playing for our lives in the final game of the season,"
"We are happy to be in the position we are in having survived Monaghan and now we are playing on our own pitch for Premier survival."
Monaghan will be without 3 key players for their away trip in Karl Bermingham, Sean Brennan and Cathal O'Connor.
Monaghan manager Mick Cook said
'Our display on Friday night especially when we were at full strength proved that we were at least a match for Bray Wanderers,' Cooke said.
'We had the chances particularity in the first half that should have left this second leg academic, unfortunately we failed to convert any of them.
'Three of the players that were most likely to get us on the scoreboard had to leave the field injured and their availability for this game is still doubtful.
'I know we have strength in debt but even that is threatened with the absence of three such influential players, so hopefully some of them will be available.
'I was satisfied with our overall performance on Friday and with a little bit of luck we could have won the game. The same type of performance with that portion of luck should be enough on this occasion.'