Match Preview :- Tamworth - Monday March 24th, 2008 (15:00:00)
On Easter Monday Celtic travel to Birmingham to face Tamworth with a 3pm kick off. Tamworth are currently sixteenth in the league, thirty points and thirteen places behind Celtic, having played three games less. They?ve not made the adjustment to the Conference North as well as their fellow relegated rivals Southport, but are probably safe from relegation. There will be a match centre for this match.

We?ve met Tamworth twice already this season, last October they made their first visit to Bower Fold, and fought out a goalless draw, before visiting a month later to knock us out of the FA trophy, so there is a chance for some revenge here, especially with the automated prediction algorithm predicting a 3-1 win for Celtic to equal our own eight consecutive game winning streak.

Tamworth?s home record is quite decent, and in recent weeks, they have beaten Hyde, Blyth, Hucknall and Redditch at home, losing only to Southport. With losses further back against Kettering and a draw with Telford, it would appear that they struggle against top-five teams. Their last two matches were away, and they won neither, drawing away at Worcester, and losing at Gainsborough Trinity.

They have a good defensive record, having conceded only forty-nine goals this campaign, but their goal scoring has let them down. They have kept eight clean sheets at home, and one away (against us), whilst they have failed to score in ten games this season, five at home, and five away. In their last five home games, they have shut up shop three times, and only Southport have put three past them at home. Their top scorer this season is Nicky Wright who has nine goals (with a hattrick against Hucknall in mid-February), with Matt Williamson his closest rival on six. On average, they score 1.5 goals per game at home (1.4 overall) and concede just a goal per game at home (1.5 overall). Their first goal comes on average in the twenty-seventh minute, and they first concede at home on average at forty-two minutes. Tamworth?s most dangerous period is the opening fifteen minutes when they have scored twelve of their forty-five goals this season, whilst twelve have gone in against them in the quarter hour after the hour mark, with a further nine in the last ten minutes. At home, when they have been winning at half time, they have gone on to win all seven matches, and when they are losing at half time, they have lost all five matches.

Tamworth have taken 66% of the points available in their last six home matches, whilst Celtic have taken 83% of the points available in their last six away matches. Only the blip away at Harrogate stands in the way of Celtic having a 100% away record over the last ten matches.

Tamworth currently have no injury or suspension worries ahead of the match, and in their last match, the 1-0 loss away at Gainsborough, Tamworth lined up as:
1. Alex Cisak
2. Des Lyttle
3. Dominic Langdon
4. Michael Briscoe
5. Craig McAughtrie
6. Martin Foster
7. Jake Sheridan
8. Chris Nurse
9. Colin Marrison
10. Nick Wright
11. Gareth Sheldon

Celtic are looking to equal their own league record of eight consecutive wins after a solid 1-0 home win over Worcester at the weekend. In that match, Celtic lined up as:
1. Martin Pearson
2. Ashley Woolliscroft
3. Andy Smart
4. Steve Payne
5. Terry Barwick
6. Paul Sykes
7. Steve Torpey
8. Ashley Winn
9. Chris Hall
10. James Dean
11. Alex Meechan

Celtic are favourites going into this match, but despite the favourable stats Tamworth will be keen not to suffer another home defeat this season, and are very tight defensively. It will take another good performance from Celtic to take that eighth consecutive win and edge towards second spot in front of what will undoubtedly be one of the largest home crowds Celtic have played against. Second is in our hands, with us yet to play Telford, but we have to beat the Tamworth?s in this league to ensure that it remains that way.
Directions
Distance: 95
Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes

From the M67 join the M60 towards Stockport.
After 7 miles, leave the M60 at Junction 4 (Chester, M6) to join the M56 Stay on the M56 for 7 miles, coming off at junction 7 (Northwich, M6) to join the A556.
The roundabout can be avoided by using the slip road.
Stay on the A556 for 5 miles to the roundabout with the M6.
Join the M6 southbound (Birmingham) avoiding the roundabout by using the slip road.
Stay on the M6 for 55 miles to Junction 11a (M6 Toll).
Join the M6 Toll, and stay on it for 15.
5 miles, to Junction T4 (Tamworth, A5).
After 5 miles, at the roundabout take exit 4 of 5 to join the A453 (Riverdrive).
Stay on the A453 over three roundabouts to a roundabout with the B5000 (signposted Glascote).
Take the second exit onto Glascote Road (B5000).
Almost immediately there is a second roundabout, go straight across (signposted Kettlebrook).
The ground is on the right.