On Tuesday, Celtic will host FC United of Manchester for the replay of the FA Cup 3rd Qualifier, after Sunday's game ended 3-3 (Kick off 7:45pm). FCUoM are currently twelfth in the league on seventeen points having won five, lost five and drawn twice. There will be a live match centre for this game.
FCUM started the season with a pair of losses, at home to Boston United (lost 2-1) and away at Bradford Park Avenue (lost 3-2). Their first win came at home to Marine, a game they won 3-0. Wins against Burscough and then away at Ossett Town followed, before Kendal Town inflicted another loss on them, beating FCUM 1-0, the only game they have failed to score in. Most recently, it would appear that their season is back on track with three wins out of three, beating North Ferriby (1-0 away), Stocksbridge Park Steels (4-3 at home) and Nantwich Town (4-0 at home).
Their FA Cup exploits (apart from the 3-3 draw against us) this season have seen them beat Sheffield FC 3-1, with a brace from ex-Celtic winger Carlos Roca and North Ferriby, with the only goal from once Celtic target Ben Deegan. Ben Deegan is FC United's top scorer so far this season, with five goals. Carlos Roc00a and Philip Marsh caught him up with their goals on Sunday, and are also on five. Right behind the on four goals is , Jerome Wright. Marsh got a hat-trick in their last league match, the 4-0 win over Nantwich. FC United have kept five clean sheets this season, and failed to score in one game, but have scored in every home game.
We have met this newly formed team only once before Sunday, a friendly back in 2005, a game we won 2-0 thanks to an own goal and a goal from Lee Ellington. FCUM have risen through the leagues with remarkable rapidity, only stalling last season and losing in the play offs. This season has not seen the kind of start that they would normally enjoy, but they are a good team, and will provide a very stern test. Having a little more data to go on this time around, the Automated Prediction Algorithm is still predicting a win for Celtic, but much tighter this time suggesting a 1-0 win for Celtic.
FC United are managed by former Celtic defender, Karl Marginson, whilst they also have former Celtic players Carlos Roca and Simon Garner in their ranks.
In FCUM's last match, the 3-3 draw with us, they lined up as:
1. Sam Ashton
2. Adam Carden
3. Simon Garner
4. Tunji Moses
5. David Chadwick
6. Adam Tong
7. Carlos Roca
8. Jake Cotterell
9. Ben Deegan
10. Jerome Wright
11. Phil Marsh
Celtic look to build on their run of ten games undefeated, and their good form against Redditch and Stocksbridge, as well as the excellent results over Alfreton and Eastwood. Celtic will be without Barrie Keeling, but there was a welcome return from the subs bench from Richard Battersby, and Greg Wilkinson made it to the bench against FC United. In our last match, also the 3-3 draw away at FC United, we lined up as:
1. Paul Phillips
2. Andy Smart
3. Graeme Law
4. Steve Woods
5. Warren Peyton
6. John Hardiker
7. Dave Hankin
8. Keith Briggs
9. Joe O'Neill
10. Matty Barlow
11. Connor Jennings
We will know ahead of the game who the opponents will be in the first round proper for the team that makes it through.