Dundalk face into their third warm-up match of the year this Thursday night when they welcome yet another Premier Division side, Bray Wanderers, to Oriel Park (kick-off 7.45pm). It will be the Lilywhites’ third home match in seven days, and the squad will enter it on a high having been highly impressive in their opening two games against Drogheda United and Saint Patrick’s Athletic.
 
A scoreless draw with the Premier League champions, Drogheda, was followed up with a good 1-0 win over the Saints on Tuesday night, with this visit of Bray representing the club’s penultimate home game of pre-season. For Bray, on the other hand, this will be their third away match in a row, having recently recorded two narrow 1-0 wins over Limerick 37 (Saturday) and Longford Town (Monday) - Gavin Whelan netting both winners late on.
 
Eddie Gormley’s men will provide another tough but different challenge to Dundalk, that is according to right-back John Flanagan, who told dundalkfc.com: “John hasn’t got us any easy friendlies! I think it’s going to be a different challenge. Bray, they won’t try to keep the ball as much as Drogheda and Pats I don’t think, so it will be a different test and will give us a chance to adapt to different styles of play. Hopefully, there’s going to be a few of us who get a rest for the game!”
 
Dundalk Team News: John Gill will once again be without injured duo, centre-half Ben Whelehan and central midfielder Paul Crowley, however, the pair are now in full training and will be in contention to play against Shamrock Rovers next week. Elsewhere, defender Aidan Lynch and midfielder Paul Shiels, both rested on Tuesday, could return, while striker Robbie Martin, who was forced to make a late withdrawal from the bench against the Saints with a foot injury, may also return to the match squad, leaving the manager with an 18-man panel to choose from.
 
2008 Friendly Results:
Thursday 7 February - Dundalk 0-0 Drogheda United - (Drogheda win 5-4 on penalties)
Saturday 9 February - Limerick 0-1 Bray Wanderers - (Whelan 81)
Monday 11 February - Longford Town 0-1 Bray Wanderers - (Whelan 84)
Tuesday 12 February - Dundalk 1-0 Saint Patrick’s Athletic - (Flanagan 4)