On Saturday, Celtic welcome Solihull Moors to Bower Fold for the Conference North match (kick off 3pm). Solihull are currently thirteenth in the table, on thirty-eight points, thirteen points and seven places behind sixth placed Celtic.
After a very poor start to the season, Solihull picked up some results lifting them from the bottom of the table to their current mid-table position. They are now five games unbeaten, having beaten Gainsborough, Hyde and Workington (all at home), and drawing with Worcester City at home, and Eastwood Town away. Their last away game prior to the Eastwood goalless draw was a 1-0 loss at Gloucester. Moor's last away win was the game before, their Christmas fixture away at Corby, a game that they won 3-0. Solihull have won three times on the road this season, as well as the 3-0 win away at Corby, they have beaten Nuneaton 1-0, and Boston 1-0.
Our last meeting was a 1-1 draw, back in mid-December, which was sandwiched between a 5-1 win over Harrogate and a 5-3 win over Gainsborough. Their last game saw them beat Workington 2-1 at home. Solihull's last win at Bower Fold was back in January 2007, when they won 2-3, Moor's winning goal coming in the 88th minute, and two goals from Lee Ellington and Ben Smith for Celtic. That was Moor's only win over Celtic at Bower Fold, though their last visit here was a 1-1 draw after winning earlier in the season 3-1 at Damson Park. Celtic's last win over Solihull was in April 2010, a game Celtic won 4-1. Interestingly, Celtic had lost their previous four home games before the win over Solihull that season, paralleling this season, when Celtic are coming into the game on the back of four home losses.
Solihull don't score many, with 0.6 goals per game away from home, and only 1.1 overall. However, they don't concede many either, with an average of 1.2 conceded on the road and 1.1 overall. The second half is when they do their scoring, with eight of their thirty-one goals scored midway through the second half. They concede evenly through the two halves, but the last ten minutes has seen them concede ten of their thirty-three goals. Moor's top scorer this season is Ryan Beswick on five, although Jordan Fitzpatrick is right behind him on four. Solihull have not scored in seven of their away games this season, but have kept five clean sheets.
Solihull Moors have no suspension or injury worries ahead of the match, and in their last game, the 2-1 home win over Workington, Solihull lined up as:
1. Jasbir Singh
2. Philip Midworth
3. Dominic Langdon
4. Gavin Hurren
5. Stuart Pierpoint
6. Danny Spencer
7. Rob Thompson-Brown
8. Jordan Fitzpatrick
9. Junior English
10. Justin Marsden
11. Michael Blackwood
Celtic may well be without Phil Marsh who damaged his knee in the Celtic's last match, the 1-1 draw at Harrogate. After visiting hospital there was no ligament damage just swelling. He will have a fitness test ahead of the match. Celtic may welcome back Andy McWilliams who has now served his three match suspension for his sending off in the 4-0 home loss to Colwyn Bay. In Celtic's last match, we lined up as:
1. Jan Budtz
2. Joel Bembo-Leta
3. Callum Warburton
4. Rhys Meynell
5. Kristian Platt
6. Jack Rea
7. Ollie Banks
8. Greg Wilkinson
9. Phil Marsh
10. Craig Hobson
11. Stephen Brogan
Celtic cannot drop any places in the league being seven points clear of Altrincham in seventh. A win however could propel Celtic back into contention and into third. Guiseley and Gainsborough face each other at Guiseley, so points will be dropped in that match. Nuneaton are hosting the hot and cold Corby Town, whilst Halifax should get a regulation win over Harrogate. Hyde should also get regulation win when they visit Vauxhall Motors. The automated prediction algorithm is suggesting a 1-1 draw, but can history repeat itself and Celtic's losing streak end against the same opponents as last time?
Other games this Saturday are (Celtic are 6th on 51 points):
Bishop's Stortford (33pts 18th) v Droylsden (36pts 15th)
Colwyn Bay (45pts 8th) v Blyth Spartans (16pts 22nd)
Eastwood Town (20pts 21st) v Hinckley United (30pts 19th)
Halifax Town (53pts 3rd) v Harrogate Town (36pts 16th)
Guiseley (52pts 4th) v Gainsborough Trinity (52pts 9th)
Histon (37pts 14th) v Altrincham (46pts 7th)
Nuneaton Town (56pts 2nd) v Corby Town (42pts 11th)
Vauxhall Motors (28pts 20th) v Hyde (64pts 1st)
Worcester City (44pts 9th) v Boston United (43pts 10th)
Workington (35pts 17th) v Gloucester City (39pts 12th)