On Saturday, Celtic travel to Derbyshire to face Buxton (kick off 3pm). Buxton are currently eleventh in the league on thirty-eight points, twelve places and fifteen points ahead of Celtic, though they have played three games more. There will be a match centre and Twitter feed for this game (weather permitting) and, barring any technical difficulties, a MIXLR broadcast.

Buxton have been up and down between fourteenth and sixth all season, with October being their best period so far, seeing them win four of their six games. Since then, they haven't won at home since they beat Warrington Town 2-1 at the end of October. They have played five games, lost two and drawn three. Their home record in general has been significantly worse than their away record, with thirteen game played, they have won four, drawn three and lost six. Their last home match was a 1-1 draw with Stafford, whilst their last win was a 3-1 away win over Halesowen Town.

Buxton's top scorer this season is by some way, Liam Hardy, who has scored twenty-three of their forty-one goals, with his nearest rival being Anthony Wilson on four. They score an average of 1.2 goals per game at home (1.6 overall), whilst conceding 1.6 goals per game (1.4 overall). At home, they have kept one clean sheet (from three overall) and failed to score four times (from seven overall).

In the last thirty years, we've been to Buxton four times competitively, with our last visit back in March 1992 when we won 2-1. Two losses and a 2-2 draw make up our other visits. We have also already met Buxton this season when they won 1-0, Liam Hardy finding the net with virtually their only chance of the game.

Buxton's last game was a 1-0 away defeat at Warrington Town. In that match, they lined up as:
1. Will Jaaskelainen
2. Matt Baker
3. Andy McWilliams
4. Luke Hinsley
5. Kern Miler
6. Joe Maguire
7. Josh Meade
8. Jack Broadhead
9. Anthony Wilson
10. Liam Hardy 11. Joe McGee

Celtic's last match was the 5-2 home win over Lancaster City, in which we lined up as:
1. James Coates
2. Oliver Crowley
3. Alex Honeyball
4. Chris Gallagher
5. Luke Ashworth
6. Danny Morton
7. Jordan Chapell
8. Sam Sheridan
9. Liam Dickinson
10. Matthew Wolfenden
11. Connor Hughes

Hat-trick hero, Jordan Chapell's loan deal finished in that game and Lee Neville has gone on loan to his former club Trafford, however, Jack Walton returns between the sticks for Celtic on loan until the end of the season. Ross Killock missed the Lancaster match due to an pulled muscle in pre-match warm up, but is available for selection again.

Celtic have not won away from home since the start of April 2017, nine months ago when we beat Alfreton Town (and in the past two seasons, we have won away just three other times). Our home form has been much better this season, and if we can break this bizarre run it will help our season. Winning engenders confidence, which engenders winning. As the team showed against Lancaster, with confidence, this team can compete. Celtic have a lot of games in hand, turning those into points will see us rise up the league. Win or lose, we won't move, but a win will put us within a win of nineteenth, with plenty of games in hand on the teams around us. A loss could see Sutton Coldfield catch up in their home game to Rushall.

Other matches this weekend:
Grantham Town (48pts 2nd) v Farsley Celtic (43pts 8th)
Halesowen Town (27pts 23rd) v Nantwich Town (29pts 18th)
Hednesford Town (44pts 7th) v Coalville Town (37pts 14th)
Lancaster City (37pts 12th) v Barwell (35pts 15th)
Mickleover Sports (37pts 13th) v Matlock Town (32pts 16th)
Shaw Lane (45pts 5th) v Whitby Town (29pts 19th)
Sutton Coldfield Town (20pts 24th) v Rushall Olympic (29pts 20th)
Witton Albion (40pts 9th) v Ashton United (45pts 6th)