On Saturday, Celtic are back at home (weather permitting) to face Newcastle Town. Newcastle are currently thirteenth in the league on thirty-eight points, three points and five places behind Celtic. Kick-off 3pm.

Newcastle started the season with two losses, but recovered well, to have a spell of one loss in seven games. After losing to a late goal from Celtic in October, Newcastle faltered a little, with two wins in the ten games up to New Year, both away from home. Since the turn of the year, they have lost only three matches, with two of those losses being their last two away games, losing 2-1 away at Trafford and 3-1 away at City of Liverpool. Their last away win was back in mid-January when they beat Avro, their only other away game in 2024 was against Mossley at the start of January, when they beat Mossley 2-1.

Former Celtic striker, Dan Cockerline, is sharing the Golden Boot chart for Newcastle with Jake Avery, both of whom have seven goals, Avery has scored in six of their last seven games. In total, they’ve scored thirty-seven goals (nineteen away) at a rate of 1.3 goals per game overall and 1.4 away. They have only failed to score twice away from home, at Leek and Hednesford at the end of last year. They’ve kept three of their seven clean sheets on the road, the last of which at the start of the year against Avro. Newcastle have conceded thirty-nine goals in total, twenty away from home, at a rate of 1.4 goals per game.

We’ve only played Newcastle Town once, earlier in the season when we won 4-3, having gone behind, to an early goal, to take the lead through Aaron Dwyer and Matty Bryan, only for Daniel Cockerline to equalise just before half time. Right before the interval whistle, Brad Byrne popped up to give Celtic a half time lead, only for Newcastle to peg us back again midway through the second half. Right at the death, back post header off a corner, Scott Wara smashed in the winner.

In Newcastle’s last league match, the 3-1 away defeat by Liverpool, Newcastle lined up as:
1. Joe Slinn
2. Jack Derbyshire
3. Oli Ritchie
4. Niall Osborne
5. Callum Holland
6. Kyle Stubbs
7. Isaac Graham
8. Jack Sherratt
9. Jake Avery
10. Thomas Jones
11. Jacob Twyford

In Celtic’s last league match, the 1-1 away draw at Liverpool, Celtic lined up as:
1. Luke Hewitson
2. Pawel Zuk
3. Cole Lonsdale
4. Max Leonard
5. Connor O’Grady
6. Scott Wara
7. Brad Byrne
8. Joe Robbins
9. Rio Clegg
10. Aaron Dwyer
11. Obua Mugalula

Newcastle’s captain Tommy van der Laan missed their last match with a hamstring, whilst Daniel Cockerline is currently playing for Warrington Rylands after leaving Newcastle to join Bury. For Celtic, Craig Hobson is available after serving his suspension.

A win could see Celtic return to the top six spots, with Witton in fifth three points ahead but with a worse goal difference playing Clitheroe who are level on points with Celtic, but with a better goal difference. With these two playing each other, Celtic cannot get into the top five, but we can stay in touch with them. Also level on point with Celtic are Liverpool, who are away at Trafford. A loss for Celtic could see us drop to mid-table, with five teams within three points of us. Chasetown are away at Prescot, and Widnes host Avro, Nantwich are at Kidsgrove, and our visitors Newcastle could also leap-frog us.