On Tuesday, Celtic host Lower Breck. Breck are currently three places and two points behind Celtic, in fourteenth with twenty points. Kick-off 7:45pm.
Lower Breck have one away win so far this season, their first away game of the season at Clitheroe, which they won 1-0. Since then, they’ve had a draw at Kidsgrove and five losses, most recently losing 3-2 at Nantwich. After winning their opening two games, it looked like they might replicate last year’s start, but dropped from top spot to mid-table. Only Northwich have won fewer away games. With seven goals scored on the road, Lower Breck have the worst away record of any team in the league so far this season, and with seventeen conceded, they have the third worst away defence. They have a stronger home performance and, in their last match, beat Stafford Rangers 5-3.
Scoring almost half of their away goals this season, Sam Burns is still second in the league golden boot chart for Lower Breck on eight goals, with Luke Gill overtaking him after scoring three in two games, putting the pair sixth and seventh in the league’s golden boot chart. On average, away from home, Breck score a goal per game (1.7 overall), whilst conceding 2.4 goals per away game (2.1 overall). They have kept one of their two clean sheets on the road, and failed to score twice on the road and four times overall. When Breck have been losing at half-time, they went on to lose every match, both home and away.
We’ve met Lower Breck four times since promotion to the NPL West last season. Their first visit here saw them cruise to a 3-0 win and knock us from the FA Trophy. The last meeting between the two sides was also in the FA Trophy, this time Celtic winning 3-2. Kyle Brownhill with the opener and Liam Tongue grabbing a brace, including the winner in stoppage time. Their last league visit saw Celtic win 2-0, with goals from Ellis Horan and Jack Irlam.
In Lower Breck’s last match, the 5-3 home win over Stafford, Breck lined up as:
1. Jacob Poytress
2. Liam Morris
3. Danny McKenna
4. Billy Edmondson
5. William Lawson
6. Jack McCourt
7. Luke Denton
8. Connor Millington
9. Luke Gill
10. Sam Burns
11. Elliott Hughes
In Celtic’s last match, the 0-2 home loss to Nantwich, Celtic lined up as:
1. Charlie Monks
2. Mike Koral
3. Harvey Brookes
4. Liam Tongue
5. Aaron Chalmers
6. Charlie Doyle
7. Rohan Butler
8. Andy Scarisbrick
9. Lewis Rawsthorn
10. Jack Irlam
12. Declan McLoughlin
Obua Mugalula survived his sub appearance on Saturday, and Celtic have brought in Kailen Hatfield, a central defender on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, allowing Aaron Chalmers to return to his retirement. Tunde Bayode also got some minutes.
Table |
P | Pts | |
| 12 | Runcorn Linnets | 17 | 21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Padiham FC | 17 | 21 |
| 14 | Lower Breck FC | 16 | 20 |
| 15 | Atherton Collieries | 12 | 18 |
| 16 | Chasetown FC | 17 | 18 |
| Sat 31 Oct 2026 | Stafford Rangers | 5-3 |
| Tue 27 Oct 2026 | Hanley Town | 2-2 |
| Sat 24 Oct 2026 | Nantwich Town | 2-3 |
| Tue 20 Oct 2026 | Newcastle Town | 1-4 |
| Sat 17 Oct 2026 | Chasetown FC | 2-1 |
Goal Scorers | H | A | 1st | 2nd | Total | |
| 1 | Gill, Luke | 9 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| 2 | Burns, Sam | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 3 | Lawson, William | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | Hughes, Elliott | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 5 | McCourt, Jak | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Home win | Atherton Collieries | 6-1 | Wed 23rd Sep |
| Away win | Clitheroe | 0-1 | Tue 18th Aug |
| Home defeat | Bootle | 0-4 | Mon 31st Aug |
| Away defeat | Padiham FC | 4-0 | Sat 10th Oct |
| Home score | Atherton Collieries | 6-1 | Wed 23rd Sep |
| Away score | Nantwich Town | 3-2 | Sat 24th Oct |
| Games Since... | Overall | Home | Away |
| Last Scored | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Last Conceded | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Last Won | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| Last Drew | 1 | 1 | 1 |