On Saturday, Celtic head to Widnes. Widnes are currently ninth on thirty-seven points, four places and two points behind Celtic having played a game less. Kick-off 3pm.

Widnes have had a solid season and have won their last three matches, with their last two home games seeing them score nine without reply, beating Mossley and Northwich 4-0 and 5-0 respectively. At home, Widnes have lost three and drawn one, winning their other seven matches. Their away form has let them down a little, with four wins, three draws and six losses. Their losses have come across the table losing to Clitheroe and Leek, but also Hanley and Newcastle.

When Widnes win, they generally stamp their mark on the game, with six clean sheets at home (two away), scoring twenty-one goals and conceding one in their wins. With eight goals conceded at home, Widnes have the best home defence in the league and the second best defence overall, with only Prescot conceding fewer in total. On average they score 1.9 goals per game at home (1.5 overall) with twenty-three of their thirty-seven goals coming at home. They have failed to score in three home matches, most recently just before Christmas to Clitheroe, and failed to score in four away matches. James Steele has nine of their goals, eight of which he scored at home. Right on his heals are Jack McGowan on eight and Sean Miller on seven.

In Widnes’s last league match, the 3-1 away win over Newcastle, Widnes lined up as:
1. Cameron Terry
2. Louis Isherwood
3. Matty Rain
4. Jack Byrne
5. Will Bell
6. Kris Holt
7. Steve Irwin
8. James Steele
9. Jack McGowan
10. Sean Miller
11. Stephen Milne

In Celtic’s last league match, the 3-0 away loss to Witton, Celtic lined up as:
1. Luke Hewitson
2. Pawel Zuk
3. Taylor McMahon
4. Greg Wilkinson
5. Connor O’Grady
6. Scott Wara
7. Obua Mugalula
8. Dale Whitham
9. Darius Osei
10. Joe Robbins
11. Darius Palma

Aaron Dwyer has missed the past few games with injury, whilst Jack Tinning is also doubtful. Craig Hobson will be missing the next three games due to his red against Witton, but Cole Lonsdale should be back after his red against Trafford.

We are in danger of dropping out of the top five. A win could lift us to fourth, with Witton two points ahead but not playing this weekend. Runcorn are now four points ahead, whilst chances of top spot are dwindling with Leek fifteen points clear of us. Five teams are within three points of us, so a loss could see us drop to ninth, with Chasetown not playing this weekend, but Bootle are at home to Kidsgrove, Avro away at Vauxhall Clitheroe away at Runcorn and of course, Widnes would leapfrog us.