Match Preview :- Solihull Moors - Saturday January 4th, 2014 (15:00:00)

On Saturday, Celtic travel to third placed Solihull Moors. Solihull are eleven places and sixteen points ahead of Celtic with two games in hand. There will be a live match centre for this game.

Solihull have only lost twice this season, and neither game was at home. Altrincham and Colwyn Bay beating Solihull 0-1 and 1-3 respectively. Altrincham were the last team to beat Solihull, back in November, and in the last six games, Solihull have won four and drawn two. Solihull have been held to four draws at home this season, most recently, Workington holding them to a 1-1 draw. Histon, Oxford and Bradford were the others.

Solihull have conceded just five goals in the first half this season, out of a total of 18, the best defence in the league. Scoring wise, they are quite even across the two halves, but twenty minutes in they have scored eight of their thirty-five goals. Their top scorer is Omar Bogle, with fourteen, putting him third in the overall goal scorer's table. His closest rival for the golden boot is Ryan Beswick with eight. Solihull have kept five clean sheets at home this season, and ten overall, whilst only failing to score once at home against Histon back in August. The 0-1 defeat at Altrincham is their only failure to score on the road.

Celtic were beaten 3-2 by Solihull back in September, with Obi Anorou scoring twice in a strong comeback that wasn't enough. Last season, Solihull beat us home and away, without Celtic registering a single goal, and the last win Celtic had over Solihull was tin March 2012, when we won 2-0 after holding them to a 1-1 draw at their place. The last time Celtic won at Solihull was back in January 2009, again finishing 2-0.

Solihull look to be at full strength for the visit of Celtic, and in their last match, the 2-0 away win over Oxford, Solihull lined up as:
1. Jasbir Singh
2. Michael Nottingham
3. Jordan Gough
4. Reece Fleet
5. Rob Elvins
6. Dominic Langdon
7. Jay Denny
8. Aron Wint
9. Omar Bogle
10. Junior English
11. Peter Till

Keith Briggs should also have his pick of the players on Saturday (although the twitter feed for Craig Ellison suggests he may be on his way out), and in Celtic's last match, the 5-0 home defeat to Altrincham, Celtic lined up as:
1. Craig Ellison
2. Kelvin Bleau
3. Andy McWilliams
4. Joel Bembo-Leta
5. James Tunnicliffe
6. Kristian Platt
7. Adam Pepper
8. Callum Warburton
9. Phil Marsh
10. Sean McConville
11. Adam Parkhouse

Although the odds are stacked against Celtic in this match, the form book will have to be overturned to help stop the slide towards the bottom spots. Four teams below Celtic are capable of overtaking us if we lose, whilst only Bradford Park Avenue can be caught if we win. There is a full programme on Saturday with the following other matches:
Altrincham (40pts 4th) v Leamington FC (30pts 11th)
Boston United (34pts 8th) v Vauxhall Motors (29pts 12th)
Brackley Town (38pts 6th) v Guiseley (32pts 10th)
Bradford Park Avenue (25pts 13th) v Worcester City (17pts 21st)
Colwyn Bay (36pts 7th) v Gloucester City (19pts 19th)
Gainsborough Trinity (24pts 15th) v Stockport County (23pts 17th)
Harrogate Town (32pts 9th) v AFC Telford (44pts 1st)
Hednesford Town (40pts 5th) v North Ferriby United (42pts 2nd)
Oxford City (22pts 18th) v Barrow (19pts 20th)
Workington (14pts 22nd) v Histon (24pts 16th)

Directions
Distance: 107
Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes

From the M67 join the M60 towards Stockport.
After 7 miles, leave the M60 at Junction 4 (Chester, M6) to join the M56 Stay on the M56 for 7 miles, coming off at junction 7 (Northwich, M6) to join the A556.
The roundabout can be avoided by using the slip road.
Stay on the A556 for 5 miles to the roundabout with the M6.
Join the M6 southbound (Birmingham) avoiding the roundabout by using the slip road.
Stay on the M6 for 72 miles to junction 4a (M42, The North).
Stay on the M42 for 4 1/2 miles to Junction 6 (Birmingham South East).
At the roundabout at the end of the slip road, turn right (exit 3 of 4) onto the A45 (Coventry Road).
After 2 miles (at the first set of traffic lights) turn left onto Damson Parkway.
The ground is three quarters of a mile down Damson Parkway on the right.