Bray Wanderers vs Cork City Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Just when the form of struggling Bray Wanderers appears to be improving, the bottom of the table side get hit for six against a team that aren’t in the running for a place in Europe next season. Bohemians sit fourth from bottom in the Irish Premier Division and will have been as surprised as anyone else when they scored six without replay against Bray. Admittedly, the hosts have endured a terrible season and remain odds on to be relegated, but the manner of their defeat is what is so disappointing. Things certainly don’t get any easier on Friday night when second placed Cork City provide the opposition, especially as the visitors head into the game on the back of a big win of their own and hoping to reclaim top spot from Dundalk.

When the two clubs locked horns back in May, hosts Cork City gave Bray Wanderers a lesson in football. As early as the third minute and Cork were ahead, Keohane getting the credit for putting the ball past Moran in the visitors goals. Bray remained in the match, saw plenty of the ball and created chances of their own, but Cork City went in at the break two goals to the good thanks to a forty-third minute strike from McLoughlin. The story panned out the same during the second half as goals for Cummins and Buckley made the final score 4-0 and showed Bray the importance of taking chances.

There is no separating the two clubs in the form guide, with each team picking up two wins, one draw, and suffering three defeats in their last six matches. Admittedly, all of Bray’s last six games have been in the league, while Cork City lost both legs of their Champions League qualifier against Legia Warszawa during the last six matches. It’s hard to imagine Cork City not winning on Friday as they have a great overall record against Bray Wanderers, which includes victories in each of their last six meetings. We’re expecting to see a good few goals in this game as three of Bray’s last six matches have produced over 3.5 goals, and Cork City have already knocked four past their hosts this season and head into the game on the back of a 5-0 win against Derry.

With four goals in the league this season Coughlin top scores for the hosts, who seriously need to invest over the summer to bring in a striker who can score double figures at this level. Speaking of which, Cork City have two such players in their squad, with both Cummins and Sadlier top scoring with eleven Premier League goals so far this season.

We’re confident that Cork City will beat Bray Wanderers once again, and that over 3.5 goals will be scored in the process. The heavy defeat against Bohemians was away from home and Cork City’s 5-0 win over Derry was in their own backyard, which is why we’re predicting a 4-1 win for Cork City on Friday and not something even more spectacular.

Bray Wanderers’ Predicted Lineup: Moran, Kenna, Harding, Gorman, Heaney, McCabe, O’Conor, Hayes, Mamaliga, Kelly, Pender.

Cork City’s Predicted Lineup: Cherrie, Delaney, Beattie, Griffin, McLoughlin, Keohane, McCormack, McNamee, Buckley, Cummins, Sheppard.