Derry below par

DERRY City failed to build on last week's superb victory over Cork City, when they gave a particularly poor display against relegation threatened Bray Wanderers at the Brandywell yesterday.

It was clear that Kevin Mahon's players may have had an eye on next weekend's big FAI Cup clash against Shelbourne.

"In our last two games against St Patrick's Athletic and Cork we played as if our lives depended on it. That certainly was not the case today," he said afterwards.

"Maybe a number of our players had an eye on next weekend's cup game against Shelbourne, but we've deliberately kept that fixture low profile this week," he added.

With Shelbourne manager Dermot Keely a keen spectator, Mahon went on: " I'm concerned about the performance, but at least we didn't lose and we've preserved our recent unbeaten run."

And Bray's Pat Devlin suggested that this was a match his side could have won.

"It's yet another draw for us in a match we could have won. We've experienced the same situation in recent matches against Shamrock Rovers and Sligo," he said.

"However, I can't fault the players. They've done everything I've asked of them and I think we've been unlucky."

Derry could have taken a 3-0 lead in the first 18 minutes but striker Michael McHugh failed to hit the target on each occasion.

But after Colm Tresson brought the best out of Derry goalkeeper David Platt in the 15th minute, it was Bray who broke the deadlock on the half-hour.

Tresson's drive from 25 yards seemed to catch Platt by surprise , But after the goalkeeper successfully parried the shot, Stuart Connolly was on hand to hit the loose ball high into the roof of the net from 10 yards.

But the home side struck back almost immediately and punished Bray for failing to adequately clear their lines. McHugh picked up possession on the lefty and his deep cross found Liam Coyle rising high at the back post to divert the ball home from close range.

From that point onwards, the match deteriorated rapidly and while Derry enjoyed long spells of possession, they failed to beat John Walsh in the Bray goal.

Walsh pulled off a superb finger-tip save to deny Eddie McCallion while Coyle's curling shot from 12 yards sailed narrowly wide of the post.

Bray content to hit on the break, also had chances but Tresson's efforts failed to threaten Platt.

DERRY CITY: Platt; D Kelly, Hutton, Curran, M Kelly; McCallion, Doherty, Beckett, McCann; Coyle, McHugh. Subs: McCaul for M Kelly (72 mins).

BRAY WANDERERS: Walsh; Gifford, Lynch, Doohan, Keogh; Connolly, Tierney, Fox, Tresson; O'Brien, O'Connor.

Referee: Hugh Byrne (Dublin).