Match Preview :- Southport - Tuesday August 18th, 2009 (19:45:00)
Tuesday sees Celtic head over to Southport for the Conference North clash (kick off 7:45pm). Southport are currently 6th in the league, having won two and lost one. They are 9 places and three points ahead of Celtic at this early point in the season. They have scored seven and conceded five, the opposite of Celtic. There is no coach to this match, but there will be a live match centre.

Southport have only played at home once this season, when they beat Conference North new boys Gloucester City 3-2. Their other two matches have been away from home, beating Blyth Spartans 2-0 and losing 3-2 to one of the other new teams, Ilkeston Town. As expected, Ciaran Kilheeney has got off to a flying start and already has three goals to his name, giving him an early season Goal Scorers chart topping position. Southport are another of the teams that are looking for the title, or at the least, a play-off spot, in the hope of returning to the Conference National.

Last season, Southport beat us three times, twice in the league and in the Setanta Shield. They put seven past us with only one in reply. Our last win over Southport was in the play off semi-final the year before, whilst our last win in the league was at Haig Avenue in March 2008, when we beat them 3-2, though the return fixture that season was a 2-2 draw. In the last fifteen visits to Haig Avenue, Celtic have won four, lost nine and drawn two.

Southport?s last match was the 3-2, running out of time after going 3-0 down. Despite some knocks Southport are mostly fit, with only defender Kevin Lee a doubt. In the defeat at Ilkeston, Southport lined up as:
1. Tony McMillan
2. Chris Lever
3. Rob Marsh-Evans
4. Adam Flynn
5. Earl Davis
6. Bradley Barnes
7. Ashley Winn
8. Alan Moogan
9. Chris Simm
10. Ciaran Kilheeney
11. Matty McGinn

Celtic suffered their second consecutive home defeat on Saturday, going down 3-1 thanks in part to an admitted howler from the referee that left Richard Battersby in need of treatment. Steve Woods also picked up a knock, and both will have to be assessed ahead of Tuesday?s match. In the 3-1 defeat, Celtic lined up as:
1. Paul Phillips
2. Richard Battersby
3. Andy Smart
4. Steve Woods
5. Michael Carr
6. John Hardiker
7. Dave Hankin
8. Keith Briggs
9. Joe O?Neill
10. Matty Barlow
11. Warren Peyton

The prediction algorithm is suggesting a close game, with a 2-1 win for Southport. Celtic have to get their season back on track, and although this will be a massive ask, Southport is a good place to start.
Directions
Distance: 60
Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

From the M67 join the M60 travelling towards Stockport.
Stay on the M60 for 17 miles to junction 11 (M62, Liverpool) Join the M62 towards Liverpool.
Stay on the M62 for 8 miles to junction 10 (Birmingham, Preston).
The slip road forks, bear to the right (Preston) and join the M6 Northbound.
Stay on the M6 for 8 miles to junction 26 (Skelmerside) At the roundabout at the end of the slip road, turn left (exit 1 of 3) onto the M58.
Stay on the M58 for 5 miles to junction 3 (St Helens).
At the roundabout at the end of the slip road, turn right (exit 3 of 4) onto the A570.
Almost immediately, there is a second roundabout, turn left (exit 1 of 4) to stay on the A570 (now called Ormskirk Road).
After 4 miles the A570 makes a sharp left turn.
Quarter of a mile later, it crosses the A59 (County Road) at a staggered cross roads) Turn right then immediate left to stay on the A570 (now called Southport Road).
After 5 1/2 miles you will reach a roundabout with the B5276.
Bear left (exit 3 of 6) to stay on the A570 (now called Scarisbrick New Road).
Take the next right just past the King George V College onto Haig Avenue, the ground is just up Haig Avenue.