On Saturday, Celtic make the first of two long trips, this time to Chasetown. Chasetown are currently eighth in the league on twenty-nine points, three places and two points behind Celtic. Kick-off 3pm.

Chasetown have lost only one home game so far this season, losing 1-2 to Atherton at the end of October. They won the two home games since, beating Bootle 6-0, and most recently, Darlaston 2-1. Those two wins are their only two wins in their last nine matches, most recently, drawing 2-2 away at Congleton and 1-1 away at Clitheroe, with a 2-1 away defeat at Avro between their wins. Their best spell came from the end of August to the start of October, with five wins on the bounce, scoring ten and conceding one in that period.

Two players are tied for their top scorer slot, with Tyler Webster and Jack Langston both on four. Only Avro in the top ten have scored fewer home goals than Chasetown, but with only three home goals conceded all season, they have the best home defence in the league. With only Runcorn conceding fewer overall, Chasetown have the second best defence in the league. On average, they score 1.8 goals per home game, and 1.4 overall, whilst conceding 0.3 goals per home game and 1.1 overall. Seven of their nine clean sheets came at home, a league record, whilst they have failed to score in two home games (five overall).

Last season, Celtic won both home and away over Chasetown, winning 4-3 at Bower Fold with Jack Irlam, Joe Duckworth, Kyle Brownhill and Liam Tongue netting after Danny Glover converted an early penalty, and Joe Duckworth dismissed for a second yellow five minutes after scoring. In the reverse fixture, Lewis Rawsthorn scored twice, early in each half, with a consolation coming late on after a masterful defensive performance from the Bridge. The season before saw Chasetown win both games, 1-0, and the only other meeting came in the FA Cup in 2015, Celtic going through after a replay at Bower Fold.

In Chasetown’s last match, the 1-1 draw away at Clitheroe, Chasetown lined up as:
1. Curtis Pond
2. Joe Dunne
3. Zach Findlay
4. Kieren Fenton
5. Mitch Clarke
6. Sam Wilding
7. Todd Ferrier
8. Joe Thompson
9. Joey Butlin
10. Tyler Webster
11. George Cater

In Celtic’s last league match, the 1-0 home win over Runcorn Linnets, Celtic lined up as:
1. Charlie Monks
2. Mike Koral
3. Kyle Brownhill
4. Jordan Butterworth
5. Aaron Chalmers
6. Jack Tinning
7. Charlie Doyle
8. Liam Tongue
9. Ruben Jerome
10. Andy Scarisbrick
11. Ellis Horan

The side put out against West Didsbury in Celtic’s last match, the 3-1 away defeat, only had four of those starters. Andy Scarisbrick is unlikely to start after receiving stitches for an horrific challenge against Runcorn.

A win for Celtic could see us climb a place over Bury, if they lose at home to Atherton. A loss, however, could see us drop to ninth, if Atheron beat Bury, Runcorn neat Newcastle at home and Vauxhall beat Stafford away; with Chasetown able to also leapfrog us.