On Saturday, Celtic travel across Cheshire to face Runcorn Linnets. Runcorn are one place and two points behind Celtic, in fourth on seventy-six points. Kick-off is 3pm.

Runcorn have been a top five team for most of the season, losing three times at home, and drawing five. The remaining twelve games have been wins. In their last ten games overall, they’ve won six, lost two and drawn two, whilst in their last five home games, they’ve had two wins, two draws and a loss. Their most recent home games saw them draw 1-1 with Bootle and lose to Bury, whilst their last home win was at the end of March when they beat Wythenshawe 2-0, following on from a 1-0 home win over Stafford. Going back further, for their last ten home games, losses to Witton and draws with Avro, Nantwich and Mossley giving them a home win form of four wins, four draws, and two losses.

Former Celt, Scott Bakkor, leads their goal-scoring chart, with thirteen, with Sean Miller and Harry McGee on seven apiece. They have had twenty different scorers this season. On average, at home, they score 2.0 goals per game (1.8 overall) and concede 1.2 (1.0 overall), keeping seven of their thirteen clean sheets at home and failing to score three times (eight overall), most recently the 0-0 with Mossley. They have the third highest goals scored at home in the league, and sixth lowest goals conceded. Overall, their defence is rated the best in the league, whilst Celtic have the best overall attack in the league.

Our record at Runcorn is awful. We have never won there since Runcorn Linnets formed in 2006. In five league encounters, our only win was this season at Bower Fold which we won 1-0 with Andy Scarisbrick the scorer. Our last league visit was last season, when Runcorn won 3-2 after Celtic had gone 2-0 up Lewis Rawsthorn and Jack Irlam, mirroring their visit to Bower Fold which also finished 3-2 after Celtic had led through Liam Tongue and Jack Irlam. Our only other visit to Runcorn in the league finished 1-0 to Runcorn.

In Runcorn’s last match, the 3-1 away win over Kidsgrove, Linnets lined up as:
1. Yusuf Mersin
2. Joseph Ferguson
3. Matty Rain
4. Brendan O’Brien
5. Harvy Washington
6. Markell Foulds
7. Harry McGee
8. Jacques Welsh
9. Scott Bakkor
10. Sean Miller
11. Noah Roberts

In Celtic’s last match, the 2-0 away defeat to Sporting Khalsa, Celtic lined up as:
1. Charlie Monks
2. Jordan Butterworth
3. Kyle Brownhill
4. Aaron Chalmers
5. Jack Byrne
6. Charlie Doyle
7. Andy Scarisbrick
8. Liam Tongue
9. Jack Irlam
10. Benni Smales-Braithwaite
11. Ellis Horan

This is a huge game for both teams, a chance to determine who will finish higher and gain home advantage in the play-offs. A Celtic win and Runcorn cannot catch us, putting us one point behind Avro – should they lose to Nantwich. A Runcorn win and Celtic drop to fourth. Bury are at home to Witton, with only Avro able to catch them. A win for Bury will crown them champions. A point for Celtic will ensure a top four finish. A win for Celtic will ensure a top three finish.