On Saturday, Celtic are back at home when Clitheroe are the visitors. Clitheroe are currently fifteenth in the league on thirty-four points, nineteen points and ten places behind Celtic. Kick-off is 3pm.

After an early season high of two losses, a draw and four wins in the opening seven games, lifting them to seventh, Clitheroe slid down the table, with one win in their next seven. A little rally of five games unbeaten steadied the slide, but in their last ten games, they have won only one, seeing them drop back down to their current position. They have drawn four of those ten, but their last away win was against Wythenshawe at the start of November. A game they won 2-0. In the six away games since then, Clitheroe have drawn two and lost four.

Luke Gill is their current league top scorer, with seven goals, with Veron Parny only one behind on six. They have the fifth worst away scoring record in the league at the moment, with fourteen goals, scored at a rate of 0.9 goals per game (1.5 overall), failing to score in six away games. Defensively, they are mid-table, conceding twenty-four goals at a rate of 1.6 goals per game whilst keeping four of their seven clean sheets on the road. Their last away clean sheet was the win over Wythenshawe. Clitheroe have scored seven last minute goals, but none have affected the outcome of the game. Their most vulnerable period is just before half time.

We’ve already met Clitheroe this season, beating them 3-1 at their place with Ellis Horan, Benni Smales-Braithwaite and Dylan Scott giving Celtic a comfortable finish to the game. Clitheroe’s last visit to Bower Fold also went Celtic’s way with a second half goal from Joe Duckworth sealing the points. Clitheroe’s previous visit saw them draw 2-2, goals from Darius Osei and Max Leonard cancelled out by a stoppage time penalty.

In Clitheroe’s last match, the 1-0 home defeat to Avro, Clitheroe lined up as:
1. Olivier Bellizia
2. Jordan Windass
3. Josh Briggs
4. Cameron Lancaster
5. Jake Carroll
6. Anwar Murtesa
7. Ben Woods
8. Danny Wilkins
9. Harry Scarborough
10. Veron Parny
11. Jack Morris

In Celtic’s last match, the 4-2 away win over Congleton, Celtic lined up as:
1. Charlie Monks
2. Mike Koral
3. Kyle Brownhill
4. Aaron Chalmers
5. Jack Byrne
6. Andy Scarisbrick
7. Charlie Doyle
8. Liam Tongue
9. Ruben Jerome
10. Jack Irlam
11. Ellis Horan

Celtic are within three points of second-placed Bury (away at Wythenshawe), though their goal difference is thirteen better. We are also three points behind third-placed Runcorn (at home to Mossley) though they have a six better goal difference. Avro (home to Witton) are two points ahead, so if results go our way, we could rise a place to fourth. In the other direction, Vauxhall (at home to Congleton) are two points behind, whilst Bootle (away at Atherton) are three behind but Celtic have a five goal lead on goal-difference. If results go against us, we could drop to sixth, if there’s a disaster, we could drop to seventh.