Wexford will go into their first away game of the year in bright spirits, having performed well and secured a point at home to UCD AFC last Friday. A Conor English equalizer in injury time was enough for Wexford to put a point on the board on their first matchday, after managing to keep the students to just a single shot on target throughout the game.

Among the many new signings on show in the first league game, new loan signing Paul Cleary was put straight into the starting XI and manager Brian O'Sullivan was pleased with his introduction: "We think he's done really really well. He's fitted in really well with the lads, he has a great attitude and he's buying in to what we're trying to do here. He's a great lad first and foremost and on the pitch, he is a good defender. I think he'll do well for us, and I think St. Patrick's Athletic really rate him as well."

Conor Crowley and Cian Kavanagh were both involved in the build-up to Conor English's goal, with Crowley winning the ball back initially and Kavanagh getting the assist. O'Sullivan praised the whole team performance on the night: "Crowley won the ball and played it to Karl Manahan, who played Cian Kavanagh through. We were set up right defensively, and the midfield offered something in attack. Cian played a great ball to Conor [English] and it was a worldie finish. He deserved it on the night, he was excellent."

On this Friday's opposition, O'Sullivan was asked how he thought Bray would fare after losing their opening match against Cabinteely: "They will be like a wounded animal going into the game. When they lost to Cabinteely I believe conditions were difficult up there,  they went into half time 4-0 down but I believe weather played a massive factor. They got a reaction at half-time. For their standards, they're obviously not happy. Sometimes that not an easy thing to face. We'll have to defend, we're capable of doing that, and we're also capable of catching them on the counter with the pace and the quality we have going forward."

Speaking with the club media team, midfielder Conor Crowley echoed O'Sullivan's sentiments: "Obviously we're going there to win the game. We know they're going to have the ball at times, and we're going to have to be disciplined defensively. We'll have to hold our shape and see whether Bray can break us down. We're also going to try to get on the ball ourselves and create as many chances as we did last Friday. It's going to be a good test, it's one that we relish and one that we're looking forward to."

In team fitness news, Conor English picked up a slight ankle injury during the UCD match and has not trained this week as a result. As a result, he is ruled a doubt but will be hopeful to get himself fully match-fit by Friday night. Janabi Amour has fully recovered from the knock that forced him off during the same game. Liam Berry will remain absent for a couple of weeks through injury, with Malike Hill-Benrouguibi a longer-term absentee.

Kickoff at the Carlisle Grounds is set for 7.45pm

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