Match Preview :- Oxford City - Saturday October 5th, 2013 (15:00:00)

On Saturday, Celtic will travel to the dreaming spires of Oxford to face a team rooted to the bottom of the table, searching for their first win of the campaign, with four draws, Oxford are on four points, seven points and eleven places behind Celtic. There should be a match centre for this game, but no promises!

Three of Oxford's four draws have been picked up in the road, holding Altrincham, Bradford, and Solihull to scoring draws, 2-2 for Altrincham and Solihull, and 3-3 for Bradford. Given the high flying nature of the Altrincham and Solihull, to return home with a point is a fair achievement. Their only daw at home this season was their last home game on Tuesday, against Boston. Most recently, they lost 1-0 away at Vauxhall Motors. They've failed to score in three of their nine games this season, and have conceded in every game.

Oxford progressed to the next round of the FA Cup last weekend, when they beat Maidenhead United 1-0, earning an away tie at Eastleigh.

Last season was the only time we have met Oxford and it was points apiece, with draws home and away, a soulless goalless draw in Oxford, and a last gasp equaliser at Bower Fold sharing the points, when Celtic had been forced to play their penultimate game of the season without a recognised goal-keeper after Alex Cairns had been recalled, and Jordan Barrow strapped on the gloves. He did perform well until the Celtic defence unravelled in the last few seconds, giving Oxford a point.

Oxford do not have any suspension worries ahead of the game, and don't appear to have any injury worries. In their last league game, the 1-0 away loss to Vauxhall, Oxford lined up as:
1. Victor Francoz
2. James Clifton
3. Paul Stonehouse
4. Andy Ballard
5. Lee Henderson
6. Chris Willmott
7. Jamie Cook
8. Darren Pond
9. Marvin Robinson
10. Callum McNish
11. Tom Winters

Celtic will be looking at the knocks picked up for Obin Anorou in the FA Cup clash with Worksop Town, and examining Tom Buckley who missed the game through injury. Matty Urwin is also a last minute check after missing out on the FA Cup clash due to a minor injury. In that game, the 5-3 home loss, Celtic lined up as:
1. Anthony Windle
2. Kelvin Bleau
3. Andy McWilliams
4. Callum Warburton
5. Kristian Platt
6. Joel Bembo-Leta
7. Lewis Hatch
8. Greg Wilkinson
9. Obi Anorou
10. Sean McConville
11. Conal Platt

It's back to league football in the Skrill Conference North this weekend. Other fixtures this weekend are:
Altrincham (20pts 3rd) v Guiseley (8pts 17th)
Boston United (18pts 6th) v Barrow (9pts 14th)
Brackley Town (21pts 2nd) v Vauxhall Motors (14pts 10th)
Colwyn Bay (9pts 13th) v North Ferriby United (19pts 4th)
Gainsborough Trinity (7pts 18th) v Harrogate Town (10pts 12th)
Hednesford Town (22pts 1st) v Gloucester City (9pts 15th)
Histon (14pts 9th) v AFC Telford (15pts 8th)
Solihull Moors (19pts 5th) v Bradford Park Avenue (16pts 7th)
Stockport County (6pts 20th) v Worcester City (8pts 16th)
Workington (7pts 19th) v Leamington FC (5pts 21st)

A win for Celtic could move them up two places, depending on the size of the win, and the size of the losses for Vauxhall and Histon (assuming wins for us and losses for them!). A loss could also see us move down into the bottom third. If Celtic have aspirations to be a top half of the table team, then a win against Oxford is a must, but with Oxford chasing their first win, and Celtic's admittedly poor defensive record, it's going to be harder than it seems on paper.

Directions
Distance: 169
Time: 3 hours and 15 minutes

Head away from Bower Fold towards Glossop.
At the traffic lights at the Glossop turning, continue straight to join the A628.
Stay on the A628 through Tintwistle to where it becomes the Woodhead Pass.
Stay on the A628 Woodhead Pass to the Flouch Roundabout (about 11 miles from Tintwistle).
Turn right (exit 3 of 4) onto the A616 (signposted for the M1).
After nine miles, there is a roundabout with the A61; continue straight across (exit 3 of 4) to stay on the A616 (signposted M1 Southbound).
After a mile join the M1 Southbound at junction 35a.
Stay on the M1 for 102 miles to junction 15a (A43).
At the second roundabout, turn right (exit 3 of 4) onto the A43.
Stay on the A43 for 20 miles to the M40.
Join the M40 towards Oxford.
Stay on the M40 for 5 miles to junction 9 (A41/A34).
At the roundabout at the end of the slip road, turn right (exit 3 of 4) onto the A34.
After 6 miles, take the A44 exit towards Oxford and the A40.
At the second roundabout, bear left (exit 2 of 6) onto the A40.
Stay on the A40 for 2 miles and take the Marten/Elsfield exit.
The club is half a mile on the left.