Match Preview :- Hucknall Town - Saturday February 23rd, 2008 (15:00:00)
Celtic start their trio of away trips on Saturday, starting with a trip to Hucknall Town. Hucknall are currently just outside the relegation spots twenty-two points and thirteen places behind Celtic having played two games more. Hucknall are one of Celtic manager Steve Burr's former teams, a team he guided to the Unibond championship a few years back.

After a mid-season revival that lifted Hucknall to twelfth, off the back of one loss in nine, Hucknall slid back down the table with just one win in their last nine matches, and that win came away at Worcester. In their last nine matches, they have scored just four goals, and have conceded fifteen. Those losses guided Hucknall to an unenviable league record of seven consecutive league losses.

Our last meeting with Hucknall was earlier this season, when Hucknall visited Bower Fold and strolled away with all three points after a comfortable 3-0 win for the Nottinghamshire outfit. Hucknall have had good results against Celtic, and we have to go back to November 2005 for Celtic's last win, at Bower Fold, and even further back to the last game of the Unibond Premier, when we needed to beat the then league champions to get into the Conference North, something we managed to do, completing one of Celtic's recent Great Escapes. That game stands as the only time Celtic have won at Watnall Road, we have drawn to and lost four times in our visits there.


Hucknall's top scorer this season is Danny Bacon, who has eight goals. Ben Saunders is next in line with five. On average, they score 1.2 goals per game, and concede 1.8 at home, 1.9 overall. They score on average around the 45 minute mark, and concede in the 51st minute. With eleven of their thirty-seven goals coming in the last quarter of an hour, this is their most dangerous period, whilst they have conceded fourteen of their fifty eight goals around the hour mark, making this their most vulnerable period.

They have kept two clean sheets (Worcester and Vauxhall) at home this season, but have failed to score in six, including three of their last four home games. The last game they won at home was at the start of December, when they beat Tamworth 3-1, and their best result was back in October when they went nap to beat Worcester 5-0. Their last match was away at Tamworth, who got revenge for earlier in the season by beating Hucknall 4-0.


Hucknall's manager has been busy in recent weeks. Out has gone Ben Kistell and Anthony Howell, and in has come Peter Knox from Alfreton, Mick Galloway from Workington, Junior Harding and Daniel Forrest (both from Halifax Town). Ian Robinson went off injured in their recent 4-0 thrashing, whilst they will be without Jordan Hall through suspension.

In their last match, the 4-0 away defeat at Tamworth, Hucknall lined up as:
1. Greg Smith
2. Dan Macpherson
3. James Cullingworth
4. Bobby Wilson
5. Gary Sucharewycz
6. Russell Cooke
7. Ian Robinson
8. Jordan Hall
9. Ben Saunders
10. Danny Bacon
11. Daniel Forrest

Barrie Keeling and Steve Payne may both be in contention, but will require late fitness tests, and Paul Sykes will be available, with his suspension for accumulated bookings kicking in on Tuesday. Celtic have won six of their last seven away games, and we drew our last match at home to Southport 2-2. In that match, Celtic lined up as:
1. Paddy Gamble
2. Ashley Woolliscroft
3. Andy Smart
4. Garry Burke
5. Ashley Winn
6. Paul Sykes
7. Lee Ellington
8. Terry Barwick
9. Chris Hall
10. Matty Barlow
11. Carlos Roca

Chris Hall is currently three goals behind top spot on the Golden Boot league, and hopefully will be looking to get back onto the score sheet and catch up to Nuneaton's Andy Brown. Having grabbed four on his last trip to the midlands, he could well do it again, though he hasn't scored since then!

Relative form of the two teams means that the automated prediction algorithm suggests a 4-2 win for Celtic on Saturday, which would be a welcome haul, as we are only two points behind Nuneaton who will be hosting Solihull Moors on Friday night. Getting back into the play-offs is in Celtic's hands again, after Nuneaton's slip up on Saturday, but it will mean no more slip ups for Celtic to take advantage.
Directions
Distance: 67
Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes

Head up Mottram Road, away from Bower Fold heading for Mottram.
At the mini-roundabout, bear left (exit 2 of 4) onto Back Moor.
At the end of this road, join the A57 (Mottram Moor) heading towards Glossop.
At the right turn junction for Glossop, go straight on heading for Tintwistle.
This puts you onto the A628 Woodhead Road.
After 13 miles you will come to Flouch Roundabout.
Turn right (exit 3 of 4) onto the A616.
After about 9 1/2 miles you will come to a second roundabout, go straight across (exit 3 of 5), heading for the M1.
After another mile you will reach the M1, you can only head South from this junction.
Stay on the M1 for about 35 miles, coming off at Junction 27 heading towards Heanor.
At the roundabout at the end of the slip-road, turn left (exit 1 of 4) onto the A608.
Almost immediately, there is another roundabout.
Bear right (exit 2 of 3) to stay on the A608 (Mansfield Road).
At the next roundabout go straight across (exit 2 of 3).
Almost immediately, there is another roundabout, turn right (exit 2 of 3) onto the A611, signposted Hucknall.
Stay on the A611 for 2 miles, coming to yet another roundabout.
Turn right (exit 2 of 3) to stay on the A611.
Less than a mile, and there is a roundabout, go straight across (exit 2 of 4).
At the next (the last) roundabout, turn right (exit 3 of 4) onto the B6009 (Watnall Road).
The ground is 100 yards on the right hand side.