On Tuesday, Celtic face Darlaston for the first time in the league. Darlaston are currently sixteenth in the league, three points and seven places behind Celtic having played two more games.
Since promotion, Darlaston have not lost away from home, but lost every home game. They have conceded only two goals in the first half, but not scored at all in the second. Having won their opening two away games, beating Trafford and Witton, with a loss at home to Stafford between. Since then, they’ve played four games, three at home and one away, drawing away at Shifnal, but losing at home to Bootle, Mossley and Vauxhall. This means they are the only team apart from Trafford to pick up no points at home this season.
Darlaston have scored in every match except the 1-0 home loss to Stafford, and conceded in every match except for a 2-0 away win over Witton. In the last four games, they have conceded nine goals, scoring four, with their top scorer James Roland on three. On average, away from home, they score 1.7 and concede 0.7 goals per game. Every goal scored has been in the first half, with six in a fifteen minute spell between quarter of an hour and half an hour.
This is our first meeting with Darlaston in any competition.
In Darlaston’s last match, the 1-2 away defeat to Vauxhall, Darlaston lined up as:
1. Aaron Flahaven
2. Jack Downing
3. Luke Carsley
4. Bailey Storey
5. Alex Foreshaw
6. Karston Cairns
7. Lewis Gill
8. Jack Pearson
9. Jake Collins
10. James Roland
11. Keiron Berry
In Celtic’s last match, the 3-0 home defeat to Lower Breck in the FA Trophy, Celtic lined up as:
1. Charlie Monks
2. Mike Koral
3. Kyle Brownhill
4. Jordan Butterworth
5. Jack Byrne
6. Jack Tinning
7. Andy Scarisbrick
8. Liam Tongue
9. Benni Smales-Braithwaite
10. Jack Irlam
11. Ellis Horan
Celtic need a big response after our exit from the FA Trophy, and this gives a chance to break into the top five for the first time this season, and indeed, go second if results go our way. Ruben Jerome looks set to be out for a little while after bruising his ribs scoring his historic fifth goal against Trafford, but Dylan Scott is edging closer to a return.