United hoping for happy trip to seaside

HAVING created one piece of unwanted history with the defeat to Derry City last week, Galway United travel to the east coast tonight where they would very much welcome creating another unique stat.

The 3-0 loss to Derry City was United’s 20th consecutive defeat, a new League of Ireland record, and with Sean Connor’s side desperate to end that wretched run which has seen them lose every game since April 8, a scoreless draw tonight – which would be afirst between United and Bray – would be a hugely welcome result.

Connor insists that he goes into every game looking to win it, but if you offered him a scoreless draw before kick-off – the sides have never played out a scoreless draw in 46 previous meetings – the under-fire manager would probably snatch your hand off as helooks to end the worst run by a club in the 80 year history of the league.

Bobby Ryan is a doubt for the trip to the Carlisle Grounds after he picked up a head injury, but Yob Son comes straight back into the squad, having missed the Derry game as a result of being sent off on his debut against Drogheda United in the previous game.

Gary Dempsey has been in imperious form in Bray’s 3-0 and 2-0 wins over United this season, and while Connor singled out Paul Sinnott for praise after last week’s defeat to Derry, there is a very strong case to have the more physically imposing Son picking upthe Bray captain tonight.

Laurence Gaughan struggled a little on his debut last week, but his partnership with Eric Browne at the heart of United defence certainly looked like one worth sticking with for a few games, which would free Son to play the defensive role in midfield and provide United with that much-needed physical presence.

While central midfield has been a problem this season, the fact is that the majority of goals that United have conceded have been out wide. Evan Preston Kelly is struggling this season, understandably so given it is his rookie year in first team, while Stephen Walsh has struggled to come close to his brilliant form of last year.

Neither player can be accused of giving anything less than 100%, but if Connor goes with Son in the middle of the park, it will free up Sinnott to play right back, and the feeling is he is much better as a defender than midfielder.

While the loss of Ryan is a blow due to the experience he brings to the game, he has had a poor season. The problem for United is their lack of strength in depth, so while not his ideal position, the hunger and energy of Mikey Gilmore – not to mention his pace – makes him a candidate to get at Bray full-back Dane Massey.

That still leaves left-back as a problem, and the failure of Connor to retain the services of Derek O’Brien for this season is more disappointing with every defeat, but with Jingu Kim having two full games under his belt, the hope is he will provide more cover forWalsh than he has had for the season so far.

Both sides come into the game on the back of defeats – as United were losing to Derry, Bray were being turned over at home by Drogheda United, although that result comes with a caveat as Pat Devlin’s side were missing four players through suspension.

For more of Keith Kelly’s preview see this week’s City Tribune