Is always tough’

It was only Lyons’ second substitute appearance since re-joining the club, whilst Alan Kehoe made his debut at leftback as Wanderers made it six clean sheets from eight and put five precious points between themselves and 11th placed Wexford.

“He did great. Kevin had been doing very well but Alan had a great game despite getting a cut head and a couple of stitches. I was delighted with his performance.

“It’s brilliant because I was still looking behind despite being seven games unbeaten. They were only two points behind us so it was nice to put the small bit of daylight between us and it was nice to pull Harps into the mix as well. But it’s still a long way to go.”

Derry City will either end Bray’s magnificent run or become the ninth side in a row that has failed to beat them.

Kenny knows it will be a challenge for Bray but it will also be a challenge for Derry.

“They’re a very good team. They gave us a bit of a bashing up there, they gave us a bit of a bashing in our place as well so it’ll be a tough game. They have added to their squad recently as well with a couple of defenders and they’re going very, very well and challenging for Europe. It’ll be tough but no tougher than Dundalk or Rovers were so we’re capable of mixing it with them.”

Victory on Friday could take Bray to within a win of eighth spot but Kenny is happy to call time on the season now and celebrate what he has.

“I’d rather take it week by week. I’m not going to look any further than we are currently. When I came into the job we were hurting and we’ve done brilliantly to get where we are. It sounds very negative but I wouldn’t mind finishing where we are at the moment and start building for next year.”

Kenny expects to be boosted on Friday by a return to the panel of Darragh Noone, Alan McNally and Kevin Lynch but must plan without Conor Earley, Andrew Lewis, Dean Kelly and Ryan Brennan.