Celtic have another trip to the midlands on Saturday when we visit freshly promoted Nuneaton Town. Nuneaton are currently eighth in the table, three places ahead of Celtic, on eight points. They have had an unbeaten start to the season, having beaten also freshly promoted Guiseley and Boston United away from home, and taken two draws at home against Ilkeston Town and Droylsden. There is no coach to this match, but there will be a live match centre.
In Nuneaton Town?s previous guise of Nuneaton Borough they have a good record over Celtic, and we have not beaten them at their place in the league in the last six attempts. Our last win there was an FA Trophy replay win when we beat them 2-1 after they?d held us to a 1-1 draw at Bower Fold. We do have a better record over them at home, having won four times out of the last five league encounters. Our last meeting was back in February 2008, when they beat us 2-0 at Bower Fold having already beaten us 2-1 at their place. Our last victory over Nuneaton was back in October 2006, when we won 4-3.
Thus far in the season, they scored and conceded in every match, and Kyle Storer and Lee Moore are tied for top scorer with two apiece. They are scoring an average of 1.5 goals per game at home (and 1.75 overall) whilst conceding 1.5 goals a game at home (and 1.25 overall). They are, so far, a second half team, with five of their seven goals coming in the second half, within twenty minutes of half time. However, they don?t generally concede in the first half, with only one goal scored in that period, the other four coming in the last thirty minutes of the match.
Nuneaton will be without Guy Hadland for the clash for a sending off in their opening match against Guiseley. Other than that suspension, and a hip injury on Ed Matthews, Nuneaton have a full squad to choose from. In their last match, the 2-1 away win over Boston, Nuneaton lined up as:
1. Danny Alcock
2. Guy Hadland
3. Gareth Dean
4. Stuart Pierpoint
5. Rob Oddy
6. Mark Noon
7. Adam Walker
8. Kyle Storer
9. Simon Forsdick
10. Justin Marsden
11. Lee Moore
Celtic will be without Craig Hobson, after his sending off against Redditch on the opening day, whilst Andy McWilliams missed the Vauxhall game through injury and will be assessed ahead of the match on Saturday. In that 4-1 defeat at home to Vauxhall, Celtic lined up as:
1. Jan Budtz
2. Glen Rule
3. Graeme Law
4. Jack Rea
5. Laquan Esdaille
6. Kristian Platt
7. Jody Banim
8. Greg Wilkinson
9. Phil Marsh
10. Craig Hobson
11. Connor Jennings
The automated prediction league is going for a 3-3 draw for Celtic, with Nuneaton only drawing at home so far this season, and the two teams so close in terms of points.
Other games on Saturday:
Blyth Spartans v Alfreton Town
Eastwood Town v Corby Town
Gainsborough Trinity v Workington
Harrogate Town v Boston United
Hinckley United v Droylsden
Hyde v Ilkeston Town
Redditch United v AFC Telford
Solihull Moors v Gloucester City
Stafford Rangers v Worcester City
Vauxhall Motors v Guiseley