Match Preview :- Stockport County - Saturday February 7th, 2015 (15:00:00)

On Saturday, Celtic make the short trip round the M60 to Stockport County. Stockport are currently tenth in the league on forty points, nine places and twelve points ahead of nineteenth placed Celtic. There is a match centre for this game.

Stockport have had a pretty consistent season, hovering between tenth and fifth, they have been in the play-offs three times this season, but each time only briefly. They started the season with three wins and three losses, before setting down into just six losses in the last twenty-two, though with seven draws in that mix, the unbeaten run hasn't really kept them in touch with the play offs, but it is keeping them in the top half of the table. In their last five games, they have lost twice, at home to Tamworth, and away to Gainsborough (both finishing 2-0). They did win their home match, with a 4-2 win over Leamington, but drew their last match 1-1, which was away to Boston United.

Kristian Dennis is Stockport's top scorer this season, with ten goals. Right on his heels is Jack Ryan, the striker Celtic had on loan last season, who has found the net seven times this season. Their most dangerous period in a game is in the final ten minutes, when they have scored seven of their forty goals this season, whereas they have conceded seven just before half time, making this their most vulnerable period. On average, they score two goals a game at home and conceded 1.2; also at home, they've failed to score in four games, and kept four clean sheets. In the seven games they've been winning at half time, they have gone on to win them all. They've been drawing at half time three times this season, and got one of each result, whilst in the three games they've been losing at half time, they have only managed to get a draw in one of them, losing the other two.

We have already met Stockport this season, back in August when we won 3-2, with Ben McKenna, Aidan Chippendale and Paul Ennis all getting on the score sheet in the first half, and Jack Ryan and Kristian Dennis hitting back in the second half. There have only been two other league encounters last season, with Stockport winning 2-0 at home, and drawing 0-0 at Bower Fold. We haven't won at Edgeley Park, though we did manage a 2-2 draw there in the FA Trophy in 2011, with Celtic winning the replay. Our next visit in 2012 saw us lose 5-3 in the FA Cup.

Stockport will be without former Celt, Greg Wilkinson, who is suspended, for his sending off away at Gainsborough. Previous injuries seem to be easing for the Hatters, and in their last match, the 1-1 away draw at Boston United, they lined up as:
1. Danny Hurst
2. Kyle Jacobs
3. Scott Duxbury
4. Chris Churchman
5. Mark Lees
6. Stephen O'Halloran
7. Richie Baker
8. Danny Glover
9. Jack Ryan
10. Kristian Dennis
11. Charlie Russell

Celtic will be without mercurial loan striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin who has returned to Sheffield United, but have new loan signing Michael Potts from AFC Fylde to slot in. Hopefully the enforced rest of the postponed Bradford game, will mean injuries to Stefan Galinski, Kelvin Bleau and Nathan Heath will have been remedied bringing the Celtic back line into its more usual shape than the one that lost in our last match, the 4-1 away defeat to Tamworth. In that match, Celtic lined up as:
1. Lewis King
2. Oliver Crowley
3. Matt Regan
4. Liam Dickinson
5. Stephen Brogan
6. Stefan Galinski
7. Ben McKenna
8. Scott Kerr
9. Dominic Calvert-Lewin
10. Paul Ennis
11. Kevin Holsgrove

Celtic find themselves once again perilously close to the bottom three, with just two points between us and twentieth placed Colwyn Bay, although the Seagulls have played a game more. A win for Celtic could see us lifted to sixteenth, as both Gainsborough and Gloucester are only two points ahead, and have played a game more. We are level on points with Leamington, but behind on goal difference.

Other games on Saturday:
Brackley Town (33pts 15th) v Oxford City (40pts 11th)
Bradford Park Avenue (23pts 21st) v Gainsborough Trinity (31pts 17th)
Chorley (44pts 6th) v Guiseley (45pts 5th)
Harrogate Town (33pts 14th) v Leamington FC (29pts 19th)
Hednesford Town (47pts 4th) v AFC Fylde (58pts 2nd)
Hyde (12pts 22nd) v Boston United (42pts 7th)
Lowestoft Town (34pts 13th) v Colwyn Bay (27pts 20th)
Solihull Moors (40pts 9th) v North Ferriby United (41pts 8th)
Tamworth (51pts 3rd) v Barrow (59pts 1st)
Worcester City (38pts 12th) v Gloucester City (31pts 16th)

The bookies are probably favouring Stockport in this match, but Celtic have won four of our last six, so keep the faith!

Directions
Distance: 12
Time: 30 minutes

Take the M60 to junction 1 (Stockport).
At the roundabout at the end of the sliproad turn back on yourself (exit 5 of 6) onto the A5145 following signs for Stockport West.
At the next roundabout go across (exit 3 of 5) onto the A560 (King Street West).
After half a mile turn right at the roundabout (2 of 3) onto Mercian Way.
The ground is a third of a mile on the left.