Match Preview :- Gloucester City - Tuesday November 25th, 2014 (19:45:00)

It's six pointer time on Tuesday when Celtic travel down south for the re-arranged Gloucester game. Gloucester are currently twentieth in the table on fifteen points, two points and one place above Celtic with a game in hand. There should be a match centre for this game.

Gloucester's season so far has been as bad as our own, although tow of their three wins came away from home, something Celtic have failed to do. They beat Harrogate Town 1-0 at Whaddon Road at the start of November, ending a five home game stretch without a win this season. They immediately followed this with a 3-1 loss to Guiseley and a 3-1 loss away from home at Colwyn Bay. They started the season with one loss in seven games, although five of those games were a draw, they did beat Guiseley away. Something else Celtic have steadfastly failed to do!

Just about all Gloucester's goals are coming in the second half, with seven of their twenty-four goals coming in the second half, and the closer to the end of the match, the more they score, so teams have to be on their toes as the game concludes. Their vulnerable period is straight after the restart, with nine of their thirty-six goals coming in the ten minutes after the interval. Their top scorer is Charlie Griffin, who has eight goals, a third of all of Worcester's goals. Five of his goals are away, and seven away from home!

We have quite a good record away at Gloucester, although we lost the last two visits, we won the preceding three. Our last win over them was in April 2013, when we won 4-0, having lost the previous game 4-3 at Gloucester. We've scored four against Gloucester four times, but only at home. Our last win away there, was a 2-1 win in April 2012, with two of the most surprising scorers in Celtic's history, the goals coming from Jack Rea and Dennis Sheriff.

In Gloucester's last match, the 3-1 loss away at Colwyn Bay (one of Colwyn Bay's few home wins this season), they lined up as:
1. Jasbir Singh
2. Sam Avery
3. Billy Jones
4. Jack Harris
5. Matt Williams
6. Adam Connolly
7. George Miller
8. Tom Webb
9. Harry White
10. Charlie Griffin
11. Chris Jones

Celtic were without several players in their last match against Oxford City, some of whom will be back against Oxford. In that match, Celtic lined up as:
1. Lewis King
2. Oliver Crowley
3. Nathan Heath
4. Todd Jordan
5. Matty Hughes
6. Alex Mudimu
7. Aiden Chippendale
8. Kevin Holsgrove
9. Ben McKenna
10. James Cadman
11. Liam Dickinson

A loss on Tuesday would leave Celtic floundering, and a draw wouldn't be much better, but would stop Gloucester from increasing the gap to safety. In reality, Celtic need a win. It's time to put the start of the season behind us and start here.

Other games on Tuesday:
Colwyn Bay (24pts 12th) v Harrogate Town (22pts 13th)
Tamworth (18pts 18th) v Brackley Town (19pts 17th)

Directions
Distance: 138
Time: 3 hours and 10 minutes

From the M67 join the M60 towards Stockport.
After 7 miles, leave the M60 at Junction 4 (Chester, M6) to join the M56 Stay on the M56 for 7 miles, coming off at junction 7 (Northwich, M6) to join the A556.
The roundabout can be avoided by using the slip road.
Stay on the A556 for 5 miles to the roundabout with the M6.
Join the M6 southbound (Birmingham) avoiding the roundabout by using the slip road.
Stay on the M6 for 60 miles to junction 8 with the M5.
Join the M5.
Stay on the M5 for 48 miles to junction 10 (A4019, Cheltenham).
Stay on the A4019 for 4 miles turn left onto A435 (Portland Street) following signs for Evesham.
Go through one set of lights and then turn right at the next set onto Wellington Road.
At the mini-roundabout, turn left (exit 2 of 5) onto B4632.
Take the first right onto Whaddon Road, the club is 400 yards on the left.