On Saturday, Celtic make a trip to Solihull to face Solihull Moors. Solihull have had a worse start to the season than Celtic, and sit one place above the relegation spots with three points on nineteenth, three places and one point behind Celtic. There is a coach to this game (ring Brian on 07940 825957). A note for drivers to this match, Junction 7 has been re-opened. There will be a Live Match Centre for this game.
Solihull?s only points this season have come from a 1-0 win away from home at Harrogate Town. Their opening four matches saw them lose to Fleetwood, Alfreton, Northwich and Gloucester City. They only scored against Fleetwood, conceding eight goals with one in reply. They have not yet won at home this season, losing both games. Their two goals have come from Junior English and Ross Dempster, both of whom scored late on. They have also conceded half of their eight goals in the last ten minutes.
Celtic have a good record over Solihull, and we have beaten the Midland?s outfit in the last four times of asking, without conceding a goal, and scoring fifteen goals in the process. Solihull?s last win over Celtic was at Damson Park in September 2006, when they won 2-1, whilst their only other win over us was in January of the same season when they won 3-2 at Bower Fold. Given the history and relevant starts to the season, the automated prediction algorithm is going for a wild 5-3 for Celtic in this match, which would be a welcome boost ahead of Monday?s visit of Vauxhall Motors.
Dean Lea picked up a knock against Harrogate and will have to be assessed, but in their last match, the 1-0 win away at Harrogate, they lined up as:
1. Danny Crane
2. Phil Midworth
3. Darren Stapleton
4. Indy Khela
5. Liam Daly
6. Tim Gould
7. Junior English
8. Lee Downes
9. Jake Edwards
10. Dean Lea
11. Mark Gardner
Hopefully, Celtic will have Steve Woods back for the match, he had been suffering from a groin strain. In Celtic?s last match, the 2-2 draw at home to Workington, Celtic lined up as:
1. Paul Phillips
2. Richard Battersby
3. Graeme Law
4. Barrie Keeling
5. Michael Carr
6. John Hardiker
7. Andy Smart
8. Keith Briggs
9. Joe O?Neill
10. Matty Barlow
11. Warren Peyton
Celtic really need a win to try and narrow some of the six point gap that has opened up between ourselves and the play offs.