Match Preview :- Kidderminster Harriers - Saturday August 20th, 2016 (15:00:00)

It's another tough away trip for Celtic on Saturday when we travel to Kidderminster Harriers for a 3pm kick off. They have won two and drawn one of their opening four fixtures and will be looking to get their first home win of the season. There will be a match centre for this game.

Kidderminster were relegated from the National League last season, finishing on forty points, nine points from safety, and five points clear of bottom. They scored forty-nine goals, only three teams scored less, and conceded seventy-one goals, with four teams conceding more. They won nine games, and drew thirteen, losing their other twenty-four matches.

Their two wins this season have both come away from home, beating Nuneaton 2-0 most recently, and destroying Curzon Ashton 6-1 on the opening day of the season. Their first home game, though, was a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Brackley, whilst their most recent home game was a 0-0 draw with Chorley.

It's been a while since Celtic and Kidderminster met, the last meeting between the two in 1998 when Kidderminster beat Celtic 5-0 in Kidderminster. Celtic have never beaten Kidderminster on their own turn, though we have beaten them twice at Bower Fold, most recently at the start of the 1997/98 season when we won 2-1, and the end of the season before when we won 4-1. In the 1996/97 season, Celtic got our only point away at Kidderminster, when we drew 1-1. In seven trips there, the Harriers have won six.

Former Celtic academy player, Arthur Gnahoua has been making regular first team starts for Kidderminster, and has already found the net. Another familiar face at the club is Jordan Tunnicliffe who most recently turned out for Celtic in the Mark Storah benefit match, and played on loan at Celtic in January 2014. In Kidderminster's last match, the 2-0 away win over Nuneaton, Kidderminster lined up as:
1. Sam Hornby
2. Tyrone Williams
3. Zaine Francis-Angol
4. Keith Lowe
5. Jordan Tunnicliffe
6. Ashley Carter
7. James McQuilkin
8. Elton Ngwatala
9. Mani Dieseruvwe
10. Arthur Gnahoua
11. Tyrell Waite

Celtic are having an early season injury crisis; though Tony McMillan and Aaron Chalmers are back in contention after missing the Salford game through injury (injury and suspension, in Chalmer's case), the last match was missing James Ball, who was ill. Making his debut was a left-back loan player, Graham Kelly, on loan from Sheffield United for a month. In that match, the 2-0 away defeat at Telford, Celtic lined up as:
1. Tony McMillan
2. Aaron Chalmers
3. Graham Kelly
4. Matty Hughes
5. Nick Ryan
6. Kristian Platt
7. Liam Hynes
8. Danny Wisdom
9. Andy Owens
10. Adam Farrell
11. Steve Tames

Celtic need to get back to winning ways, with only one win under our belt, and three consecutive defeats, scoring two goals so far, and conceding nine.

There is a full schedule on Saturday. Other games:
Alfreton Town v AFC Fylde
Bradford Park Avenue v Harrogate Town
Chorley v Boston United
Curzon Ashton v AFC Telford
FC Halifax Town v Tamworth
FC United of Manchester v Worcester City
Gainsborough Trinity v Altrincham
Gloucester City v Darlington
Nuneaton Town v Salford City
Stockport County v Brackley Town

Directions
Distance: 108
Time: 2 hours and 40 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 7 miles to junction 3 (A456 to Kidderminster).
At the roundabout at the end of the slip road turn right (3 of 4) onto the A456 (Manor Way).
Stay on the A456 for 12 miles to a roundabout with A451 - turn left (1 of 3) onto A451.
At the next roundabout turn left onto the A448 (Comberton Road).
Take the first (immediate) right turn onto Hoo Road.
The stadium is on the left, at the end of the road.